Obs. [f. ACTION sb. 15 + -ARY, after Fr. actionnaire; cf. missionary.] A shareholder in a joint-stock company.
1731. Bailey [see ACTIONIST 1].
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Actionary or Actionist, a term frequent in foreign newspapers; denoting the proprietor of an action or share in a company’s stock.
1755. Johnson, Actionary, one that has a share in actions or stocks.
