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Nov 26, 2018
This week’s themeVerbs This week’s words actuate parley impignorate declaim divaricate Image: Kleem
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu GargThe poet Lauris Edmond (1924-2000) once wrote:
It’s true you can’t live here by chance, you have to do and be, not simply watch or even describe. This is the city of action, the world headquarters of the verb. Edmond lived in Wellington, NZ, but any place can be your own headquarters of the verb. It has to be. There’s no other choice -- life is not about being a spectator but a participator. To be. To do. Do be do! With that in mind, this week we feature verbs. actuate
PRONUNCIATION:
MEANING:
verb tr.: To put into motion or action; to activate; to motivate.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin actuare (to actualize), from actus (act), past participle of
agere (to drive or do). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ag-
(to drive, draw, or move), which also gave us act, agent, agitate,
litigate, synagogue, ambassador,
agonistes,
ambage,
axiomatic,
cogent,
incogitant,
exigent,
exiguous, and
intransigent. Earliest
documented use: 1594.
USAGE:
“‘President Buhari is actuated by nothing else than love for motherland.’
he said.” Taiwo Adediran; The Presidency Called on Nigerians to Be Wary of Fake News; Royal Times (Nigeria); May 9, 2018. See more usage examples of actuate in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
The best theology is probably no theology; just love one another. -Charles
Schulz, cartoonist (26 Nov 1922-2000)
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