Where does “acting” come from?
Acting derives from Middle English actinge, from Old French acte, from Latin actum, the past participle of ago meaning to do or drive, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ-.
acting (English): Temporarily assuming the duties or authority of...
Definitions
- Temporarily assuming the duties or authority of...
Ancestry of “acting”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Act | — |
| 2 | English | actually | In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively;... |
| 3 | English | actual | relating to a person's acts or deeds; active,... |
| 4 | Middle English | actual | actual, real, true |
| 5 | Anglo-Norman | actuel | — |
| 6 | Old French | actual | — |
| 7 | Latin | actuālis | active, practical |
| 8 | Latin | āctus | made, done, having been done |
| 9 | Latin | agō | to act, to behave |
| 10 | Proto-Italic | agō | drive; push, impel; do, act |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂éǵeti | to be driving |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eǵ- | to drive |