(music) Themechanism, that is the set of moving mechanical parts, of akeyboard instrument, like apiano, which transfers the motion of thekey to the sound-makingdevice.[1]
The run in bar 12 is almost impossible with this piano's heavyaction.
(literature) The event or connected series of events, either real or imaginary, forming the subject of a play, poem, or other composition; the unfolding of the drama of events.
(art, painting and sculpture) The attitude or position of the several parts of the body as expressive of the sentiment or passion depicted.
1987 April 11, Kim Westheimer, “NY Protesters Rip FDA”, inGay Community News, page 1:
The protest was set up in less than three weeks by an ad hoc group called Act Up[…] According to Kramer, Act Up will continue AIDS-related organizing, possibly including anaction at an early June Washington, D.C., AIDS conference for scientists worldwide.
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions atWiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
2004, Ros Jay, Richard Templar, “Fast thinking: project”, inFast Thinking Manager's Manual[1], 2nd edition, Pearson Education,→ISBN, Fast Thinking Leader, page276:
‘Here, give me the minutes of Monday’s meeting. I’llaction your points for you while you get on and sort out the open day.’
2005, Fritz Liebreich, “The physical confrontation: interception and diversion policies in theory and practice”, inBritain's Navel and Political Reaction to the Illegal Immigration of Jews to Palestine, 1945-1948[2], Routledge,→ISBN, page196:
Violent reactions from the Jewish authorities were expected and difficulties ofactioning the new guidelines were foreseen.
2007, Great Britain: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, “Case study: 11257”, inTax Credits: Getting it wrong? 5th report session 2006-2007[3], The Stationery Office,→ISBN, Chapter 2: Changes and developments since June 2005, page26:
HMRC said that one reason they had notactioned her appeal was because she had said in her appeal form ‘I am appealing against the overpayment for childcare for 2003-04, 2004-05’, thus implying she was disputing her ‘overpayment’.
2024 May 13, “Spice up your spreadsheets! Should you run your relationship like a business?”, inThe Guardian[4],→ISSN:
Do say: “I canaction that for you going forward, my little summer squash.”
(transitive, chiefly archaic) To initiate a legal action against someone.
1856, Thomas Chandler Haliburton,The Attaché: or Sam Slick in England[5], new revised edition, Stringer & Townsend, Chapter XLVII: The Horse Stealer; or All Trades Have Tricks But Our Own, page270:
‘I have no business to settle with you—arrest me, Sir, at your peril and I’llaction you in law for false imprisonment.’
1844, Robert Mackenzie Daniel,The Grave Digger: A novel by the author of The Scottish Heiress[6], volume I, T. C. Newby, Chapter IX: How the Grave-differ entertained a lady, pages189–190:
“Scrip threatened me at first with an action for slander—he spoke of actions to the wrong man though—action! no, no no. I should haveactioned him—ha! ha! [...]”
1871, Michael Shermer, quotingAlfred Russell Wallace,In Darwin’s shadow: The Life and Science of Alfred Russell Wallace[7], Oxford University Press US, published2002,→ISBN, Chapter 10. Heretic Personality, page261:
I haveactioned him for Libel, but he won’t plead, and says he will make himself bankrupt & won’t pay a penny.
1996, Darryl Mark Ogier, “Discipline: Enforcement”, inReformation and Society in Guernsey[8], Boydell & Brewer,→ISBN, Part Two: The Calvinist Regime, page148:
In 1589 the Court went so far as to effect a reconciliation between Michel le Petevin and his wife after sheactioned him for ill treatment and adultery with their chambermaid.
