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Webster 1913 Edition

Enact

En-act′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Enacted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Enacting
.]
1.
To decree; to establish by legal and authoritative act; to make into a law; especially, to perform the legislative act with reference to (a bill) which gives it the validity of law.
2.
To act; to perform; to do; to effect.
[Obs.]
The king
enacts
more wonders than a man.
Shakespeare
3.
To act the part of; to represent; to play.
I did
enact
Julius Caesar.
Shakespeare
Enacting clause
,
that clause of a bill which formally expresses the legislative sanction.

En-act′

,
Noun.
Purpose; determination.
[Obs.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Enact

ENACT'

,
Verb.
T.
[en and act.] To make, as a law; to pass, as a bill into a law; to perform the last act of a legislature to a bill, giving it validity as a law; to give legislative sanction to a bill.
Shall this bill pass to be enacted?
1.
To decree; to establish as the will of the supreme power.
2.
To act; to perform; to effect. [Not used.]
3.
To represent inaction. [Not used.]

Definition 2024

enact

enact

English

Verb

enact ‎(third-person singular simple present enacts, present participle enacting, simple past and past participle enacted)

  1. (transitive, law) to make (a bill) into law
  2. (transitive) to act the part of; to play
    • Shakespeare
      I did enact Julius Caesar.
  3. (transitive) to do; to effect
    • Shakespeare
      The king enacts more wonders than a man.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

enact

  1. (obsolete) purpose; determination

Etymology

From Middle English enacten, from en-, from Old French en- ‎(“to cause to be”), from Latin in- ‎(“in”) and Old French acte ‎(“perform, do”), from Latin actum, past participle of ago ‎(“set in motion”)

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -ækt

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