actuate
/ˈækt͡ʃu.eɪt/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 2.10 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion."
- "I walk always with my right hand closed round the india-rubber ball which I have in my trouser pocket. The pressing of this ball actuates a detonator inside the flask I carry in my pocket. It's the principle of the pneumatic instantaneous shutter for a camera lens."
- "1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral, 2. ed., London, Oxford University Press, 1973. § 11. A man in a fit of anger, is actuated in a very different manner from one who only thinks of that emotion."
- "Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin āctus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin āctuō Medieval Latin āctuātusder. English actuate From Medieval Latin āctuātus, perfect passive participle of āctuō (“actuate, implement”), from Latin āctus, perfect passive participle of agō (“do, act”).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: āctuātus, āctus
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈækt͡ʃu.eɪt/
- British English: /ˈæktʃu.eɪt/