actuate

From Medieval Latin āctuātus, perfect passive participle of āctuō (“actuate, implement”), from Latin āctus, perfect passive participle of agō (“do, act”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈæktʃu.eɪt/, /ˈæktju.eɪt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈæktʃu.eɪt/

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actuate (third-person singular simple present actuates, present participle actuating, simple past and past participle actuated)

1. (transitive) To activate, or to put into motion; to animate.
   • Johnson

     Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion.

2. (transitive) To incite to action; to motivate.
   • 1748. HUME, David 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.

   • Addison

     Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it.

• actuator

• actuation

• actualise, actualize

āctuāte

1. first-person plural present active imperative of āctuō