from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Act \Act\ ([a^]kt), n. [L. actus, fr. agere to drive, do: cf. F.
acte. See {Agent}.]
1. That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the
effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a
performance; a deed.
[1913 Webster]
That best portion of a good man's life,
His little, nameless, unremembered acts
Of kindness and of love. --Wordsworth.
[1913 Webster] Hence, in specific uses:
(a) The result of public deliberation; the decision or
determination of a legislative body, council, court of
justice, etc.; a decree, edit, law, judgment, resolve,
award; as, an act of Parliament, or of Congress.
(b) A formal solemn writing, expressing that something has
been done. --Abbott.
(c) A performance of part of a play; one of the principal
divisions of a play or dramatic work in which a
certain definite part of the action is completed.
(d) A thesis maintained in public, in some English
universities, by a candidate for a degree, or to show
the proficiency of a student.
[1913 Webster]
2. A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a
possibility or possible existence. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in
possibility, what they afterward grow to be.
--Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
3. Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on
the point of (doing). "In act to shoot." --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
This woman was taken . . . in the very act. --John
viii. 4.
[1913 Webster]
{Act of attainder}. (Law) See {Attainder}.
{Act of bankruptcy} (Law), an act of a debtor which renders
him liable to be adjudged a bankrupt.
{Act of faith}. (Ch. Hist.) See {Auto-da-F['e]}.
{Act of God} (Law), an inevitable accident; such
extraordinary interruption of the usual course of events
as is not to be looked for in advance, and against which
ordinary prudence could not guard.
{Act of grace}, an expression often used to designate an act
declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at
the beginning of a new reign.
{Act of indemnity}, a statute passed for the protection of
those who have committed some illegal act subjecting them
to penalties. --Abbott.
{Act in pais}, a thing done out of court (anciently, in the
country), and not a matter of record.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: See {Action}.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Faith \Faith\ (f[=a]th), n. [OE. feith, fayth, fay, OF. feid,
feit, fei, F. foi, fr. L. fides; akin to fidere to trust, Gr.
pei`qein to persuade. The ending th is perhaps due to the
influence of such words as truth, health, wealth. See {Bid},
{Bide}, and cf. {Confide}, {Defy}, {Fealty}.]
1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is
declared by another, resting solely and implicitly on his
authority and veracity; reliance on testimony.
[1913 Webster]
2. The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of
another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he
utters; firm and earnest belief, on probable evidence of
any kind, especially in regard to important moral truth.
[1913 Webster]
Faith, that is, fidelity, -- the fealty of the
finite will and understanding to the reason.
--Coleridge.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Judeo-Christian Theol.)
(a) The belief in the historic truthfulness of the
Scripture narrative, and the supernatural origin of
its teachings, sometimes called historical and
speculative faith.
(b) (Christian Theol.) The belief in the facts and truth
of the Scriptures, with a practical love of them;
especially, that confiding and affectionate belief in
the person and work of Christ, which affects the
character and life, and makes a man a true Christian,
-- called a practical, evangelical, or saving faith.
[1913 Webster]
Without faith it is impossible to please him
[God]. --Heb. xi. 6.
[1913 Webster]
The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the
mind which is called "trust" or "confidence"
exercised toward the moral character of God, and
particularly of the Savior. --Dr. T.
Dwight.
[1913 Webster]
Faith is an affectionate, practical confidence
in the testimony of God. --J. Hawes.
[1913 Webster]
4. That which is believed on any subject, whether in science,
politics, or religion; especially (Theol.), a system of
religious belief of any kind; as, the Jewish or Mohammedan
faith; the Christian faith; also, the creed or belief of a
Christian society or church.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Which to believe of her,
Must be a faith that reason without miracle
Could never plant in me. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
--Gal. i. 23.
[1913 Webster]
5. Fidelity to one's promises, or allegiance to duty, or to a
person honored and beloved; loyalty.
[1913 Webster]
Children in whom is no faith. --Deut. xxvii.
20.
[1913 Webster]
Whose failing, while her faith to me remains,
I should conceal. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
6. Word or honor pledged; promise given; fidelity; as, he
violated his faith.
[1913 Webster]
For you alone
I broke me faith with injured Palamon. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
7. Credibility or truth. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
The faith of the foregoing narrative. --Mitford.
[1913 Webster]
{Act of faith}. See {Auto-da-f['e]}.
{Breach of faith}, {Confession of faith}, etc. See under
{Breach}, {Confession}, etc.
{Faith cure}, a method or practice of treating diseases by
prayer and the exercise of faith in God.
{In good faith}, with perfect sincerity.
[1913 Webster]