subs. (conventional).—Copulation: see GREENS and RIDE. Also THE ACT (or DEED) OF DARKNESS, KIND, LOVE, etc.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, Merchant of Venice, i. 3. 84. When the work of generation was Between these woolly breeders in THE ACT. Ibid. (1605), King Lear, iii. 4. 87. A serving man … that … served the lust of my mistress’s heart, and did the ACT OF DARKNESS with her. Ibid. (1609), Pericles, iv. 6. Bawd. If she would— … Lys. If she’d do the DEED OF DARKNESS, thou wouldst say.
1611. Bible, John viii. 4. This woman was taken in adultery, in THE very ACT.
d. 1638. CAREW, Poems, ‘A Rapture.’
| And knows as well as Lais how to move | |
| Her pliant body in THE ACT OF LOVE. |
