Little actors onstage.
John Travolta and Johnny Deep are each an example of an actor.
- a person who does something or participates in something
- a person, often, specif., a man, who acts in plays, movies, etc.
Origin of actorMiddle English actour, a doer, steward, plaintiff ; from Classical Latin actor, a doer, advocate ; from actus: see act
- A person who behaves in the manner of a character, usually by reciting scripted dialogue, in order to entertain an audience, especially in a play, movie, or television show.
- One who takes part; a participant: “France, Britain &ellipsis; and any other external actors now involved &ellipsis; in the affairs of the continent” (Helen Kitchen).
- Law a. One, such as the manager of a business, who acts for another.b. In civil law, the plaintiff in an action.
Origin of actorMiddle English actour, doer, probably from Latin &amacron;ctor, from &amacron;ctus, past participle of agere, to drive, do; see ag- in Indo-European roots.
- A person who performs in a theatrical play or film.
- One who acts; a doer.
- One who takes part in a situation.
- (law) An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes.
- (law) One who institutes a suit; plaintiff or complainant.
- (policy debate) One who enacts a certain policy action.
- (software engineering) The entity that performs a role (in use case analysis).
From Latin āctor (“doer”), from agere (“to do”). Cognate with Ancient Greek ἄκτωρ (aktōr, “leader”), from ἄγω (agō, “lead, carry, convey, bring”).