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had one act together

 - 4 dictionary results

act

  [akt]
Use had one act together in a Sentence
–noun
1. anything done, being done, or to be done; deed; performance: a heroic act.
2. the process of doing: caught in the act.
3. a formal decision, law, or the like, by a legislature, ruler, court, or other authority; decree or edict; statute; judgment, resolve, or award: an act of Congress.
4. an instrument or document stating something done or transacted.
5. one of the main divisions of a play or opera: the second act of Hamlet.
6. a short performance by one or more entertainers, usually part of a variety show or radio or television program.
7. the personnel of such a group: The act broke up after 30 years.
8. false show; pretense; feint: The politician's pious remarks were all an act.
9. Philosophy. (in scholasticism)
a. activity in process; operation.
b. the principle or power of operation.
c. form as determining essence.
d. a state of realization, as opposed to potentiality.
–verb (used without object)
10. to do something; exert energy or force; be employed or operative: He acted promptly in the emergency.
11. to reach, make, or issue a decision on some matter: I am required to act before noon tomorrow.
12. to operate or function in a particular way; perform specific duties or functions: to act as manager.
13. to produce an effect; perform a function: The medicine failed to act.
14. to behave or conduct oneself in a particular fashion: to act well under all conditions.
15. to pretend; feign: Act interested even if you're bored.
16. to perform as an actor: He acted in three plays by Molière.
17. to be capable of being performed: His plays don't act well.
18. to serve or substitute (usually fol. by for): In my absence the assistant manager will act for me.
–verb (used with object)
19. to represent (a fictitious or historical character) with one's person: to act Macbeth.
20. to feign; counterfeit: to act outraged virtue.
21. to behave as: He acted the fool.
22. Obsolete. to actuate.
—Verb phrases
23. act on or upon,
a. to act in accordance with; follow: He acted on my advice.
b. to have an effect on; affect: The stirring music acted on the emotions of the audience.
24. act out,
a. to demonstrate or illustrate by pantomime or by words and gestures: The party guests acted out stories for one another.
b. Psychology. to give overt expression to (repressed emotions or impulses) without insightful understanding: The patients acted out early traumas by getting angry with the analyst.
25. act up,
a. to fail to function properly; malfunction: The vacuum cleaner is acting up again.
b. to behave willfully: The children always act up in school the day before a holiday.
c. to become painful or troublesome, esp. after a period of improvement or remission: My arthritis is acting up again this morning.
26. get or have one's act together, Informal. to organize one's time, job, resources, etc., so as to function efficiently: The new administration is still getting its act together.
—Idioms
27. act funny, to display eccentric or suspicious behavior.
28. act one's age, to behave in a manner appropriate to one's maturity: We children enjoyed our uncle because he didn't always act his age.
29. clean up one's act, Informal. to begin adhering to more acceptable practices, rules of behavior, etc.: The factory must clean up its act and treat its employees better.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME act(e) (< MF) < L ācta, pl. of āctum something done, n. use of ptp. of agere to do (āg- ptp. s. + -tum neut. ptp. suffix); and directly < L āctus a doing (āg- + -tus suffix of v. action)

Synonyms:
1. feat, exploit; achievement; transaction; accomplishment. See action. 4. record. 6. turn, routine. 23–13. perform, function, work. 15, 16. play.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To had one act together
Word Origin & History

act  (n.)
c.1384, from O.Fr. acte, from L. actus "a doing" and actum "a thing done," both from agere "to do, set in motion, drive, urge, chase, stir up," from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move" (cf. Gk. agein "to lead, guide, drive, carry off," agon "assembly, contest in the games," agogos "leader;" Skt. ajati "drives," ajirah "moving, active;" O.N. aka "to drive;" M.Ir. ag "battle"). Theatrical (1520) and legislative (1458) senses of the word also were in Latin. The verb is first attested 1475; in the theatrical performance sense it is from 1594. In the act "in the process" is from 1596, originally from the 16c. sense of the act as "sexual intercourse." Act of God "uncontrollable natural force" first recorded 1882. To act out "behave anti-socially" (1974) is from psychiatric sense of "expressing one's unconscious impulses or desires."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: 2act
Function: intransitive verb
1 : to carry into effect a determination of the will : take action
2 : to discharge the duties of a specified office or post : perform a specified function —used with a prepositional phrase act as President —U.S. Constitution article II>
3 : to give a decision or award (as by vote of a deliberative body or by judicial decree) —often used with on acted on> —ac·tor /'ak-t&r/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: act
Function: abbreviation
active
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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