To act a part

Act Act, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Acted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Acting}.] [L. actus, p. p. of agere to drive, lead, do; but influenced by E. act, n.] 1. To move to action; to actuate; to animate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. To perform; to execute; to do. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]

That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting things expedient for us to do. --Barrow. [1913 Webster]

Uplifted hands that at convenient times Could act extortion and the worst of crimes. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

3. To perform, as an actor; to represent dramatically on the stage. [1913 Webster]

4. To assume the office or character of; to play; to personate; as, to act the hero. [1913 Webster]

5. To feign or counterfeit; to simulate. [1913 Webster]

With acted fear the villain thus pursued. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

{To act a part}, to sustain the part of one of the characters in a play; hence, to simulate; to dissemble.

{To act the part of}, to take the character of; to fulfill the duties of. [1913 Webster]