[f. L. act- ppl. stem of ag-ĕre to ACT, on analogy of esurient ad. L. ēsurient-em pr. pple. of ēsurī-re to hunger, desiderative of ĕd-ere, ēs-um to eat.] Desire to act.

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a. 1880.  Webster cites J. Grote.

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