Actions


ac·tion

A0070100 (ăk′shən)n.1. The state or process of acting or doing: The medical team went into action.2. Something that is done or accomplished; a deed. See Usage Note at act.3. Organized activity to accomplish an objective: a problem requiring drastic action.4. The causation of change by the exertion of power or a natural process: the action of waves on a beach; the action of a drug on blood pressure.5. Habitual or vigorous activity; energy: a woman of action.6. often actions Behavior or conduct.7. Law A proceeding brought before a court to obtain relief; a lawsuit.8. a. Armed encounter; combat: missing in action.b. An engagement between troops or ships: fought a rear-guard action.9. The most important or exciting work or activity in a specific field or area: always heads for where the action is.10. a. A movement or a series of movements, as of an actor.b. Manner of movement: a horse with fine action.c. The appearance of animation of a figure in painting or sculpture.11. a. The series of events and episodes that form the plot of a story or play: The action of the novel takes place over 40 years in the South.b. A series or number of fast-moving, exciting, or dangerous events, especially in a movie: liked the film because there was so much action.12. a. The operating parts of a mechanism.b. The manner in which such parts operate.c. The manner in which a musical instrument can be played; playability: a piano with quick action.
ac′tion·less adj.

Actions

 

See Also: BEHAVIOR, CAUTION, LEAPING, JUMPING, MOVEMENT, VIOLENCE

  1. Acting without thinking is like shooting without aiming —B. C. Forbes
  2. The actions of men are like the index of a book; they point out what is most remarkable in them —Heinrich Heine
  3. Actions of the last age are like almanacs of the last year —Sir John Denham
  4. [Meaningless] actions that seemed like a charade played behind thick glass —Franz Werfel

    See Also: IMPORTANCE/UNIMPORTANCE

  5. All action is involved in imperfection, like fire and smoke —Bhagavad-Gita
  6. Driven to make a move, like a dilatory chess player prodded on by an impatient opponent —Harvey Swados
  7. Evil deeds are like perfume, difficult to hide —George Herzog
  8. A good deed will stick out with an inclination to spread like the tail of a peacock —Bartlett’s Dictionary of Americanisms
  9. Our deeds are like children born to us; they live and act apart from our own will —George Eliot
  10. Our least deed, like the young of the land crab, wends its way to the sea of cause and effect as soon as born, and makes a drop there to eternity —Henry David Thoreau
  11. Reprehensible actions are like overstrong brandies; you cannot swallow them at a draught —Victor Hugo
  12. The acts of my life swarm down the street like Puerto Rican kids —William Meredith
  13. Trying to shake off the sun as a dog would shake off the sea —James Dickey
  14. The vilest deeds like poison weeds bloom well in prison air —Oscar Wilde