Where does “act” come from?
Act comes from Middle English acte, from Old French acte, from Latin acta and actum, past participle of ago, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ-, meaning to drive or move.
act (English): Something done, a deed; Actuality; Something done...
Definitions
- Something done, a deed; Actuality; Something done...
Ancestry of “act”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | acte | — |
| 2 | Old French | act | — |
| 3 | Latin | ācta | — |
| 4 | Latin | agō | — |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | agō | drive; push, impel; do, act |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂éǵeti | to be driving |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eǵ- | to drive |