[f. med.L. actuāt- ppl. stem of actuā-re = ad actum redigere (Du Cange); f. actu-s, see ACT.]
† 1. To reduce to action; to carry out in practice, to perform (a command, proposition, etc.). Obs.
1596. Huarte, Trial of Wits, xv. 265. If there be any … who speaketh or actuateth this in the presence of another.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., I. iii. § 12, 88. He that neglects to actuate such discourses loses the benefit of his meditation.
1677. Hale, Contempl., II. 68. That must … actuate such a Conviction to attain its due effect.
† b. To reduce into the form of an act. See ACT sb. 7. Obs.
1658. Bramhall, Consecr. Bps., in Ang. Cath. Lib., III. 64. With their registers to actuate what is done, they do solemnly in form of law confirm the election.
† 2. To render active, to stir into activity (a latent or inert property); to stir up, arouse or excite. Obs.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Morals, 1347. And the cause which doth excite and actuate the same. Ibid. (1609), Amm. Marcell., XVII. ii. 81. Who took this opportunity to actuate their boldnesse in doing mischiefe.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Armour, II. 506. So doth faith actuate sin in the Conscience.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 117, ¶ 10. We must actuate our languor by taking a few turns round the centre in a garret.
3. To inspire (a thing) with active properties, to quicken, enliven or vivify. arch.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (1869), 82. What kind of soule doth inform, actuat, govern, and conserve that vast empire.
1664. H. More, Apology, 498. The Soul is a Spirit that actuates the natural Body.
1824. Coleridge, Aids to Refl. (1848), 115. Its [spirit’s] property is to improve, enliven, actuate some other thing, not constitute a thing in its own name.
b. absol.
1664. Knavery in all Trades, III. D 2. A Cup of Ale-berry, or Warme-Broth exhibited to his small Guts … shall actuate in all parts of his Body.
4. To move to mechanical action, to communicate motion to, to move, impel (an instrument, machine, or agent). Also fig.
1645. Rutherford, Tryal & Triumph of Faith (1845), 58. The devil in his element is twice a devil; he is in his own when he formeth and actuateth bloody instruments.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 67, ¶ 11. Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exper. Phil., III. xxix. 191. Either of these forces is sufficient to actuate or put in motion the system of wheels and pinions.
1832. Porter, Porcelain, 50. It has also a piston, actuated by a screw.
1879. Prescott, Spkg. Telephone, 3. In 1861, Reiss discovered that a vibrating diaphragm could be actuated by the human voice.
5. To act upon, or move, the will, as motives do.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, xv. (1824), I. 255. The girl has strong passions and resentments; and she that has, will be actuated, and sometimes governed by them.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, Ded. 1 (1816). Every liberal motive that can actuate an Authour.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 169. The motives which governed the political conduct of Charles the Second differed widely from those by which his predecessor and his successor were actuated.
† 6. intr. To exert activity, to act. Obs.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, 3. Consequently it not being able to actuate as it ought, putrifieth.
1629. Donne, Serm., cxxxvi. V. 438. The Soul that does not think, [does] not consider, cannot be said to Actuate (which is the proper operation of the Soul) but to Evaporate, not to work through the Body, but to breathe and smoke through the body.
1657. Deuine Louer, § 3. 9. Wee ought in soule with Loue to actuate towards God the intensest and continuallest … wee can.
