Ac"tu*al*ness, n. Quality of being actual; actuality.
Ac`tu*a"ri*al (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to actuaries; as, the actuarial value of an annuity.
Ac"tu*a*ry (&?;), n.; pl. Actuaries (&?;). [L. actuarius copyist, clerk, fr. actus, p. p. of agere to do, act.] 1. (Law) A registrar or clerk; -- used originally in courts of civil law jurisdiction, but in Europe used for a clerk or registrar generally.
2. The computing official of an insurance company; one whose profession it is to calculate for insurance companies the risks and premiums for life, fire, and other insurances.
Ac"tu*ate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Actuated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Actuating (&?;).] [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare, fr. L. actus act.] 1. To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action; to influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more commonly used of persons.
Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion.
Johnson.
Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it.
Addison.
2. To carry out in practice; to perform. [Obs.] "To actuate what you command." Jer. Taylor.
Syn. -- To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate.
Ac"tu*ate (&?;), a. [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare.] Put in action; actuated. [Obs.] South.
Ac`tu*a"tion (&?;), n. [Cf. LL. actuatio.] A bringing into action; movement. Bp. Pearson.
Ac"tu*a`tor (&?;), n. One who actuates, or puts into action. [R.] Melville.