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Webster 1913 Edition


Actuate

Ac′tu-ate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Actuated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Actuating
.]
[LL.
actuatus
, p. p. of
actuare
, fr. L.
actus
act.]
1.
To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action; to influence actively; to move as motives do; – more commonly used of persons.
Wings, which others were contriving to
actuate
by the perpetual motion.
Johnson.
Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least
actuated
by it.
Addison.
2.
To carry out in practice; to perform.
[Obs.]
“To actuate what you command.”
Jer. Taylor.
Syn. – To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate.

Ac′tu-ate

,
Adj.
[LL.
actuatus
, p. p. of
actuare
.]
Put in action; actuated.
[Obs.]
South.

Webster 1828 Edition


Actuate

ACT'UATE

,
Adj.
Put in action. [Little used.]

ACT'UATE

,
Verb.
T.
[from act.]
To put into action; to move or incite to action; as, men are actuated by motives, or passions. It seems to have been used formerly in the sense of invigorate, noting increase of action; but the use is not legitimate.

Definition 2024


actuate

actuate

English

Verb

actuate (third-person singular simple present actuates, present participle actuating, simple past and past participle actuated)

  1. (transitive) To activate, or to put into motion; to animate.
    • Johnson
      Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion.
  2. (transitive) To incite to action; to motivate.
    • 1748. HUME, David Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral. 2. ed. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 11.
      A man in a fit of anger, is actuated in a very different manner from one who only thinks of that emotion.
    • Addison
      Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it.

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Latin

Verb

āctuāte

  1. first-person plural present active imperative of āctuō