English Explanatory Dictionary

actor

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Someone who institutes a legal suit; a plaintiff or complainant.
  2. Someone acting on behalf of someone else; a guardian.
  3. Someone or something that takes part in some action; a doer, an agent.
  4. A person who acts a part in a theatrical play or (later) in film or television; a dramatic performer.
  5. An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes.
  6. The subject performing the action of a verb.
  7. The entity that performs a role (in use case analysis).

Pronunciation

/ˈæk.təː/ [ˈæk.tʰəː] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Back ache-actor.wav /ˈæk.tɚ/ [ˈæk.tʰɚ] ~ [ˈæk.tʰɹ̩] En-us-actor.ogg

Word forms

actor actors acter actour

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Latin āctus Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin āctorbor. Middle English actour English actor Inherited from Middle English actour, from Anglo-Norman actor, Middle French actor, and their source, Latin āctor (“doer”), from agō (“to do”). Equivalent to act + -or. Cognate with Ancient Greek ἄκτωρ (áktōr, “leader”), from ἄγω (ágō, “lead, carry, convey, bring”).

Synonyms

complainant plaintiff participant performer player doer role

Antonyms

undergoer

Related words

act acting action actress actrix actual transaction

Derived words

actoress actorfic actorial actorine actorish actorism actorlike actorly actornaut actorness actor-proof actorship actorvist actory actroid back actor bad actor character actor child actor coactor crisis actor interactor live actor method actor nonactor non-state actor non state actor nonstate actor overactor play-actor self-actor spect-actor straight actor supporting actor threat actor underactor voice actor
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