


Ab actu ad posse valet illatio. (Latin term)
Translation: "Inference from what has happened to what will happen is valid."

The social worker was urged to consider ab actu ad posse valet illatio when assessing a case of potential child abuse.

Ab agendo (Latin phrase)
1. Translation: "Out of action."

The long distance runner was deemed ab agendo because of her broken leg.

2. Obsolete or retired: The farmer's old tractor was considered ab agendo and so it could only be sold as an antique.
act (s) (noun), acts (pl)
1. Something that is done or a deed that is performed: Sam expressed an act of kindness when he saw a homeless woman and offered to get her a hamburger and a drink from a sandwich shop.

Hank did a series of acts of kindness for the poor woman who lived next door.

2. A process of doing certain things: The neighbor's son was caught in three acts of stealing.
3. The main divisions of a play or an opera: The drama that the audience attended had five acts.
4. Displays of affected or pretended behavior: Sharon is not really angry; she has been putting on these acts just to get attention.
act (verb), acts; acted; acting
1. To do something; to exert energy or some force; to be employed or operative: Henry acted promptly in helping the people in the auto accident.
2. To reach, to make, or to issue a decision on some matter.
3. To operate or function in a particular way; to perform specific duties or functions: Shirley was acting as a child's substitute mother until her parents were able to return home.
acta (pl) (noun)
Deeds: The term acta was used in ancient Rome to refer to an account of actions or achievements.
Acta est fabula. (Latin statement)
Translation: "The drama has been acted out" or "The play is over."

Acta est fabula was used at the close of a dramatic performance in the ancient Roman theater.

Acta est fabula are said to be the dying words of Emperor Caesar Augustus.

The maxim, Acta est fabula may be appropriately spoken whenever a life or an unfolding event comes to an unhappy end or is simply concluded.

acta sanctorum (Latin term)
Translation: "Deeds of the saints."

The acta sanctorum involves the lives of the Christian martyrs and saints that are used in teaching the faith.

action (s) (noun), actions (pl)


activate (verb), activates; activated; activating
1. To set in motion.
2. To organize or to create a military unit, for example: The governor had to activate the National Guard to help the people after the hurricane.
3. To treat (sewage) with aeration and bacteria to aid decomposition.
4. In chemistry, to accelerate a reaction in, as by heat.
5. In physics, to make a substance radioactive.
6. In biology, to convert certain biological compounds into biologically functioning derivatives.
activated sludge (s) (noun), activated sludges (pl)
The semi-liquid, microbe-rich sediment that is added to secondary-stage sewage material during the sludge process.
activated-sludge process, actilvated-sludge effluent
A widely used process for sewage treatment that raises the level of biological activity by increasing the contact between the wastewater and the actively growing micro-organisms.
activation (s) (noun), activations (pl)
1. Making active and effective.
2. Stimulation of activity in an organism or chemical.
actively (adverb), more actively, most actively
Characterized by doing something that is usually done, or being able to do something physically or mentally make something happen.
activeness (s) (noun) (usually no plural)
1. Having the trait of moving, doing, or functioning.
2. Moving rapidly and energetically.