Action

Also 4–5 accion, -oun. [a. Fr. action ad. L. actiōn-em a doing, performance, f. act- ppl. stem of ag-ĕre to do: see -ION.]

  I.  Generally.

  1.  The process or condition of acting or doing (in the widest sense), the exertion of energy or influence; working, agency, operation.

  a.  Of persons. (Distinguished from passion, from thought or contemplation, from speaking or writing.)

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. II. 94. And holde with hym and with hure · þat han trewe accion.

1413.  Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, II. lx. (1859), 57. Thyne was the action, and I nought but abyl for to suffre.

c. 1425.  Wyntown, Cron., VI. xix. 32. He gave up all hys actyown.

1586.  Lett. to Earl of Leycester, 26. In case he failed in the action of her deliuery.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 406. The vndeseruer may sleepe, when the man of Action is call’d on. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., IV. i. 141. Certainely a Womans thought runs before her action.

1653.  Walton, Angler, i. 15. Is not yet resolved whether contemplation or Action be the chiefest thing.

1692.  Bentley, Boyle Lect., ix. 309. The human Soul is vitally united to the Body by a reciprocal commerce of Action and Passion.

1750.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 184, ¶ 10. It is necessary to act, but impossible to know the consequences of action.

1754.  Edwards, Freed. Will, II. § 4, 48. The exercise of his Activity is Action.

1756.  Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. I. 19. Millions, who know no common principle of action.

1828.  D. Stewart, Wks., VI. 121. The word action is properly applied to those exertions which are consequent on volition.

1846.  Mill, Logic, I. iii. § 5, 71. What is an action? Not one thing, but a series of two things: the state of mind called a volition, followed by an effect.

1855.  Bain, Senses & Intell., I. i. § 3 (1864), 5. Volition is separated from Feeling, by superadding the characteristic of action, or the putting forth of energy to serve an end.

  b.  Of things. (Distinguished from inaction, repose.)

  Quantity of action, in Physics: The momentum of a body multiplied into the time.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Persone’s T. (Ellesmere), 82. In how manye maneres been the acciouns or werkynges of Penitence [4 MSS. accions of worchyng].

1775.  Harris, Philos. Arrangem. (1841), 329. Another mode of action may be found in the following instances. A lamb acts upon the senses of a wolf—that sensation acts upon his appetite—that appetite acts upon his corporeal organs. By the action of these organs he runs, he seizes, and he devours the lamb.

1833.  Brewster, Nat. Magic, xi. 293. To avoid all risk of two opposite actions arriving at the same instant at any part of the engine.

1842.  Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces, 77. If gold be immersed in hydrochloric acid, no chemical action takes place.

1869.  Phillips, Vesuv., iv. 124. The intervals of action and repose were irregular.

1869.  Ouseley, Counterpoint, xiv. 83. Until the additional parts recommence their action.

1879.  Thomson & Tait, Nat. Phil., I. I. § 326. Taking it, however, as we find it, now universally used by writers on dynamics, we define the Action of a Moving System as proportional to the average kinetic energy, which the system has possessed during the time from any convenient epoch of reckoning, multiplied by the time.

  c.  In action: In a condition of activity, at work, in practical or effective operation.

1652.  M. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., To Reader. The Republick maintein’s continually in action a great number of ships, gallies and galliots.

1714.  Swift, State of Affairs, Wks. 1755, II. I. 216. The bulk of those who are now most in action either at court, in parliament, or publick offices, were then boys at school.

1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist., iii. (1876), I. 154. Schemes … were put in action against her life.

  d.  Action of a verb, verbal action: The action expressed by a verb; properly of verbs which assert acting, but conveniently extended to the thing asserted by a verb, whether action, state, or mere existence, as I strike, I stand, I live, I am.

  2.  The exertion of force by one body upon another; influence.

c. 1360.  Chaucer, A. B. C., 20. Myn sinne and myn confusioun … Han taken on me a grevous accioun.

1692.  Bentley, Boyle Lect., iv. 134. He exposed them to the action of the Sun.

1748.  Hartley, Observ. Man, I. i. § 1, 15. The subtle Actions of the Small Particles of Bodies over each other.

1812.  Woodhouse, Astron., xv. 149. The action, or the attractive force, of the Sun and Moon, on such protuberance.

1822.  Faraday, Exp. Res., xvi. 75. With similar acid the action on the pure steel was hardly perceptible.

1846.  Mill, Logic, III. xxi. § 4 (1868), II. 107. Implicitly obedient to the action of fixed causes.

1853.  Soyer, Pantropheon, 117. Submit the whole to the action of a slow fire.

1860.  Tyndall, Glaciers, I. § 2, 17. Observed upon the rocks and mountains the action of ancient glaciers.

1878.  Huxley, Physiogr., 62. By submitting a block of ice to the action of a sunbeam.

  3.  A thing done, a deed. Not always distinguished from ACT, but usually viewed as occupying some time in doing, and in pl. referred to habitual or ordinary deeds, the sum of which constitutes conduct.

1600.  Sir W. Cornwallis in Shaks. Cent. Praise, 41. His lawes and actions.

1602.  Shaks., Haml., III. i. 87. And enterprizes of great pith and moment, With this regard their Currants turne away [v.r. awry], And loose the name of action. Ibid. (1605), Macb., IV. ii. 3. When our Actions do not, Our feares do make vs Traitors.

1611.  Bible, 1 Sam. ii. 3. The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Underst., I. iii. (1695), 16. I have always thought the Actions of Men the best Interpreters of their thoughts.

1769.  Robertson, Charles V., V. II. 252. The manner in which he justified this action was still more offensive than the action itself.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev. (1872), II. III. i. 86. An action, the product and expression of exerted force.

1859.  De Quincey, Lessing, Wks. XIII. 289. Successional objects, or of which the parts are in succession, we call actions: consequently actions compose the proper object of poetry.

  4.  The thing represented as done in a drama; the event or series of events, real or imaginary, forming the subject of a fable, poem, or other composition.

1712.  Addison, Spec., No. 267, ¶ 2. This Action [of an Epic] should have three Qualifications in it. First, It should be but One Action. Secondly, It should be an entire Action; and, Thirdly, It should be a great Action. Ibid., No. 273, ¶ 1. Having examined the Action of Paradise Lost, let us in the next place consider the Actors.

1751.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The action of the Iliad holds but forty-seven days.

  † 5.  pl. The transactions, acts, or records of a court or deliberative body. (Fr.) Obs. rare.

1612.  Brerewood, Lang. & Relig., xxi. 187. As we read in the actions of that Councel.

1635.  Pagitt, Christianogr., I. iii. (1636), 197. The 3 tome of the sixt action of the second Councell of Nice.

  6.  Mode of acting. a. Of persons: Gesture, oratorical management of the body and features in harmony with the subject described; in Sculpt. and Painting: Gesture or attitude as expressive of the sentiment or passion depicted.

1579.  Gosson, Sch. of Abuse, 68. Players action doeth answere to their partes.

1603.  Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 55. The phrase, utterance, and action of those that exercise to make speeches.

1602.  Shaks., Haml., III. ii. 19. Sute the Action to the Word, the Word to the Action. Ibid. (1605), Macb., V. i. 32. It is an accustom’d action with her, to seeme thus washing her hands.

1748.  J. Mason, Elocution, 38. Under the Word Pronunciation the Antients comprehended Action as well as Elocution.

1758.  Johnson, Idler, No. 90, ¶ 8. In the pulpit little action can be proper.

1801.  Strutt, Sports & Past., II. i. 64. The representation of an archer with his bow in the action of shooting.

1850.  Merivale, Hist. Rom. Emp., liv. (1865), VI. 403. It was not the mere trick of action, or knack of speaking, that he was to acquire.

1856.  Patmore, Angel in Ho., I. II. ii. (1879), 162. She spoke this speech, and marked its sense By action.

  b.  Of animals. esp. The trained management of the body or limbs by domesticated animals.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., III. i. 6. Imitate the action of the Tyger.

1882.  Daily News, 30 May, 3/1. The judges considered as a prime essential the action of the competing horses, and this of course would be action according to the behests of English park fashion.

Mod.  The roan has good knee-action.

  c.  The way in which an instrument acts; also concretely, the arrangement or mechanism by which this is effected.

1845.  Lond. Univ. Calend. Exam. Papers, 219. Explain the action (1) of the siphon, (2) of the air-pump.

1865.  Dickens, Our Mut. Fr., ii. (C. D. ed.), 4. The grand pianoforte with the new action.

1881.  Greener, Gun, 195. This lever is secured in position by the screw and washer to a pivot passing through the lever, the said pivot being solid with the action.

  II.  Specifically.

  7.  The taking of legal steps to establish a claim or obtain judicial remedy; legal process; the right to raise such process. To take action: to institute legal proceedings; hence gen. to take steps in regard to any matter, to act. Property in action, i.e., not in possession, but recoverable by legal process. (The earliest sense in Eng.)

1330.  R. Brunne, Chron., 196. Whilk of vs is doun, & mad is recreant, Cleyme & accioun he lese.

c. 1440.  Gesta Rom., I. xxxix. 129. I may have noone accione ayenst the.

1594.  R. Parsons, Next Succession, Cont. Such as may have clayme or action to the crowne of England at this day.

1641.  Termes de la Ley, 59. The King himselfe cannot grant his thing in Action, which is uncertain.

1660.  T. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 22/1. Liable to the action of every Man.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., II. 396. We will proceed next to take a short view of the nature of property in action, or such where a man hath not the occupation, but merely a bare right to occupy the thing in question; the possession whereof may however be recovered by a suit or action at law: from whence the thing so recoverable is called a thing, or chose, in action.

1769.  Junius Lett., Pref. A double remedy is open to them by action and indictment.

1809.  Tomlins, Law Dict., I. D/2. If one calls a merchant bankrupt, action lies.

Mod.  He took prompt action to defend his rights.

  b.  Legal ground. Action of battle = ‘casus belli.’ Obs.

1536.  Bellendene, Cron. Scot. (1821), II. 374. The Paip … decernit the Scottis to have just action of battal, in defence of thair liberteis, aganis King Edward.

  8.  A legal process or suit.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 431/3. Doubtyng that the stryf accions and pletynges of the poure shold come onely to the presence and knowlege of hys counceyllours.

1523.  Fitzherbert, Surveying, 7. The lorde maye haue an actyon of Trespace agaynst any man.

1591.  Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 99. In all other Actions personalls or realls, we have power to yeeld such Iudgements as doe appertaine.

1597.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. i. 2. Mr. Fang, haue you entred the Action?

1641.  Termes de la Ley, 6. Actions personals be such actions whereby a man claimeth debt, or other goods and chattels … for wrong done to his person.

1690.  W. Walker, Idiom. Anglo-Lat., 9. I’le clap an action on your back.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., II. 393. While they thus continue my qualified or defeasible property … an action will lie against any man that detains them from me, or unlawfully destroys them.

1794.  S. Williams, Hist. Vermont, 216. Actions of ejectment were commenced in the courts at Albany.

1809.  Tomlins, Law Dict., I. D/1. A man attainted of treason … cannot bring an action.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 179. All actions for mesne profits were effectually barred by the general amnesty.

  † 9.  A proposition, motion or question for discussion. (L. actio.) Obs. rare.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, II. (1822), 154. Valerius dictator … afore ony accioun wes discussit be the senate, proponit the accioun of the victorius pepill.

  10.  Active operation against, or engaging an enemy, fighting.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 186. Would in Action glorious I had lost Those legges. Ibid. (1606), Tr. & Cr., IV. v. 113. They are in action.

1684.  Scanderbeg Rediv., v. 115. His Majesty with a Natural Air of Gallantry usual to him in time of Action.

1761.  Smollett, Humphry Cl. (1815), 95. Retire into a peasant’s house, near the scene of action.

1805.  in Nicolas’s Dispatches, VII. 167. Bore up, and made all sail, forming in two divisions—cleared Ship for Action.

1861.  J. H. Macdonald, Evol. of Battalion, 7. Column formations again, in the British army, are for motion, and not for action, understanding the word action to mean, as in military parlance, engaging the enemy.

  11.  An engagement with the enemy, a fight.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 6. How many Gentlemen haue you lost in this action?

1665.  Pepys, Diary (1879), III. 175. His serviceablenesse in this late great action.

1684.  Scanderbeg Rediv., or Life of John III. of Poland, v. 116. In this great Action the most Memorable Victory that has been Atcheived in our Age, or indeed almost in any other, the King had not with him above 4000 men.

1769.  Robertson, Charles V., V. iii. 330. They defeated the nobility in several actions.

1798.  Nelson, in Nicolas’s Dispatches, III. 95. During their march they had some actions with the Mamelukes.

1799.  Wellington, Gen. Disp., I. 22. More troops being sent to their aid, a general action took place.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 437. Between the army of Waldeck and the army of Humieres no general action took place.

  12.  Histrionic personation; acting of plays, performance. ? Obs.

1626.  Massinger, Rom. Actor, IV. ii. As thou didst live Rome’s bravest actor, ’twas my plot that thou Shouldst die in action.

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 3, ¶ 1. This Evening the Comedy … was acted for the Benefit of Mrs. Bignall … Through the whole Action, she made a very pretty Figure.

  † 13.  A theatrical performance, a play. Obs.

1679.  Trials of White & Other Jesuits, 47. [Parry loq.] He was at an Action of ours, a Latine Play.

  14.  A devotional or religious performance or exercise; a solemn ‘function.’ Action Sermon (Scotch), a Sacramental or Communion discourse.

1825.  E. Irving, in Mrs. Oliphant’s Life, I. xi. 368. I returned home about seven, and addressed myself to write my action sermon.

1855.  F. Procter, Bk. of Comm. Prayer, 353. The Lord’s Prayer also begins the action of thanksgiving [actio gratiarum].

1863.  Glasgow Her., 15 April. An interval is now allowed in some congregations between the ‘action sermon’ and the sacramental service.

  † 15.  A share in a joint-stock company (as if the amount of action or operation which one takes in it). (Fr.) Obs.

1641–1706.  Evelyn, Diary (1819), II. 40. African Actions fell to £30, and the India to £80.

1683.  Lond. Gaz., mdcccxv. 4. The Actions of our East-India Company are very much fallen.

1715.  Burnet, Hist. own Times, I. 573. The actions sinking on the sudden on the breaking out of a new war.

1750.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., To melt or liquidate an Action, is to sell, or turn it into money.

1758.  Ann. Reg., 235. An English lady being possessed of Actions shares in the Embden company.

1864.  Burton, Scot Abroad, II. 264. The impetuosity with which the actions rose.

  16.  Comb. action-noun, a substantive expressing action; action-taking a., litigious.

1879.  Whitney, Sanskrit Gram., 374. There is hardly a suffix by which action-nouns are formed which does not also make agent-nouns or adjectives.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, II. ii. 18. A lily-liver’d action-taking knave.