■ verb
1》 take ~ion; do something.
↘( ~ up ) informal behave badly.
2》 ( ~ for/on behalf of ) represent on a contr~ual or legal basis.
↘[as adjective ~ing ] temporarily doing the duties of another.
3》 take effect or have a particular effect.
4》 perform a fictional role in a play or film.
↘behave so as to appear to be: I ~ed dumb.
↘( ~ something out ) perform a narrative as if it were a play.
■ noun
1》 a thing done.
2》 a simulation or pretence.
↘a particular type of behaviour or routine: he did his Sir Galahad ~.
3》 Law a written ordinance of Parliament, Congress, etc.
4》 dated a record of the decisions or proceedings of a committee or an academic body.
5》 a main division of a play, ballet, or opera.
6》 a set performance: her one-woman poetry ~.
Phrases
~ of God an instance of uncontrollable natural forces in operation.
~ of grace a privilege or concession that cannot be claimed as a right.
get (or be ) in on the ~ informal become (or be) involved in a particular ~ivity, in order to gain an advantage.
Derivatives
~ability noun
~able adjective
~ing noun
Origin
ME: from L. ~us 'event, thing done', from ~- , agere 'do, ~', reinforced by Fr. ~e .