ACTOR

actor, histrion, player, thespian, role player

(noun) a theatrical performer

actor, doer, worker

(noun) a person who acts and gets things done; “he’s a principal actor in this affair”; “when you want something done get a doer”; “he’s a miracle worker”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

actor

A person who performs in a theatrical play or film.

One who acts; a doer.

One who takes part in a situation.

(legal) An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes.

(legal) One who institutes a suit; plaintiff or complainant.

(policy debate) One who enacts a certain policy action.

(software engineering) The entity that performs a role (in use case analysis).

(linguistics, grammar) The most agent-like argument of a clause, e.g. 'the torpedo' in "The torpedo sank the boat" and "The torpedo fired".

Usage notes

• In the sense of a person who acts in a play or film, the traditional sense of the word only applied to male actors; the term actress being used for the female counterpart.

Synonyms

• (person who performs in a theatrical play or film): performer, player

• (one who acts): doer

• (one who takes part): participant

• (advocate in civil courts or cases)

• (a plaintiff): complainant, plaintiff

• (one who enacts a policy action)

• (entity performing a role in use case analysis): role

Antonyms

• (grammatical role): undergoer

Hyponyms

• (person who performs in a theatrical play or film): actress f

• enactor

• reenactor

Anagrams

• Croat, Croat., rocta, taroc

Source: Wiktionary


Ac"tor, n. Etym: [L. actor, fr. agere to act.]

1. One who acts, or takes part in any affair; a doer.

2. A theatrical performer; a stageplayer. After a well graced actor leaves the stage. Shak.

3. (Law) (a) An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes. Jacobs. (b) One who institutes a suit; plaintiff or complainant.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

29 May 2025

CRITICAL

(adjective) characterized by careful evaluation and judgment; “a critical reading”; “a critical dissertation”; “a critical analysis of Melville’s writings”


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Coffee Trivia

The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.

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