| active |
in grammar, designating the voice or form of a verb whose subject acts through the verb, rather than being the object of the verb's action, such as "signed" in "Five petitioners signed the document". (Cf. passive.) [1/7 definitions] |
| actor |
one who acts or does. [1/2 definitions] |
| Acts |
see "Acts of the Apostles." |
| adventurism |
impetuous, irresponsible acts or policies, esp. by a government or someone in power, in defiant violation of commonly accepted norms of behavior. |
| agency |
an organization, franchise, or business that acts on behalf of others. [1/4 definitions] |
| agent provocateur |
(French) a secret agent who incites other people to commit acts that will subject them to punishment or prosecution, or who incites others to acts of rebellion or subversion; troublemaker. |
| alcalde |
in Spain and the U.S. Southwest, a mayor who also acts as a judge. |
| altruist |
a person who feels unselfish concern for the well-being of others and acts upon this concern in some way. |
| antechamber |
a small room that acts as a waiting room or entryway to a larger room; anteroom. |
| anteroom |
a small room that acts as an entry to a larger room; waiting room. |
| antidote |
anything that acts as a remedy or counteracts. [1/2 definitions] |
| aperient |
a medicine or food that acts as a gentle laxative. [1/2 definitions] |
| -ar2 |
one that acts as an agent or performs. |
| atomism |
in psychology, the theory that all social institutions arise from the acts and interests of individual people. [1/2 definitions] |
| -ator |
one that does (such) a thing or acts in (such) a way. |
| attention |
(usu. pl.) acts of politeness, respect, or affection. [1/4 definitions] |
| bar1 |
anything that acts as a restraint or hindrance. [1/13 definitions] |
| barnstorm |
to perform acts of stunt flying with a small plane, usu. at rural carnivals or fairs. [1/3 definitions] |
| bastion |
something that acts as a safeguard for a principle or idea. [1/3 definitions] |
| batboy |
a boy who retrieves baseball bats discarded by hitters and acts as a team's general assistant. |
| batgirl |
a girl who retrieves baseball bats discarded by hitters and acts as a team's general assistant. |