Actor Meaning
/ˈæk.təː/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounSomeone who institutes a legal suit; a plaintiff or complainant.
nounSomeone acting on behalf of someone else; a guardian.
Sentence Examples
The son of a great actor became a good actor in his own right.
At last, James Bond made it as an actor.
He is arguably the best actor of his generation.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The famous ____ received an award for his leading role in the film.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ gave a powerful speech upon receiving the Oscar.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"A man may be principal in an offence in two degrees. A principal, in the first degree, is he that is the actor, or absolute perpetrator of the crime; and, in the second degree, he who is present, aiding, and abetting the fact to be done."
— 1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the laws of England^(https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AWilliam_Blackstone%2C_Commentaries_on_the_Laws_of_England_(1st_ed%2C_1769%2C_vol_IV).pdf&page=48):
"Never, my dear Bethel, did the most feverish dreams of fiction produce scenes more painful, or more terrific, than the real events to which I have been an actor, since the date of my last letter."
— 1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview, published 2001, page 373:
"Mr. Clay had been too prominent an actor in public affairs to allow whig deception and misrepresentation a fair opportunity for successful action."
— 1852 February 8, “Reminiscences”, in The Daily Union (Washington), page 2:
"Seems like everyone's an actor / Or they're an actor's best friend / I wonder what was wrong to begin with / That they should all have to pretend"
— 1991, Ani DiFranco, “Anticipate”, in Not So Soft:
"Exactly. Marijuana is something we just all gradually decided is okay, like Mark Wahlberg as a serious actor. “You know what? Sure, I’ve decided I’m fine with that.”"
— 2017 April 2, “Marijuana”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 4, episode 7, John Oliver (actor), via HBO:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The famous ____ received an award for his leading role in the film.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ gave a powerful speech upon receiving the Oscar.