Act of God

Act of God
Act Act ([a^]kt), n. [L. actus, fr. agere to drive, do: cf. F. acte. See {Agent}.] 1. That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed. [1913 Webster]

That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster] Hence, in specific uses: (a) The result of public deliberation; the decision or determination of a legislative body, council, court of justice, etc.; a decree, edit, law, judgment, resolve, award; as, an act of Parliament, or of Congress. (b) A formal solemn writing, expressing that something has been done. --Abbott. (c) A performance of part of a play; one of the principal divisions of a play or dramatic work in which a certain definite part of the action is completed. (d) A thesis maintained in public, in some English universities, by a candidate for a degree, or to show the proficiency of a student. [1913 Webster]

2. A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a possibility or possible existence. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in possibility, what they afterward grow to be. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

3. Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the point of (doing). ``In act to shoot.'' --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

This woman was taken . . . in the very act. --John viii. 4. [1913 Webster]

{Act of attainder}. (Law) See {Attainder}.

{Act of bankruptcy} (Law), an act of a debtor which renders him liable to be adjudged a bankrupt.

{Act of faith}. (Ch. Hist.) See {Auto-da-F['e]}.

{Act of God} (Law), an inevitable accident; such extraordinary interruption of the usual course of events as is not to be looked for in advance, and against which ordinary prudence could not guard.

{Act of grace}, an expression often used to designate an act declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at the beginning of a new reign.

{Act of indemnity}, a statute passed for the protection of those who have committed some illegal act subjecting them to penalties. --Abbott.

{Act in pais}, a thing done out of court (anciently, in the country), and not a matter of record. [1913 Webster]

Syn: See {Action}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • act of God — often cap A: an extraordinary natural event (as a flood or earthquake) that cannot be reasonably foreseen or prevented compare force majeure, inevitable accident, unavoidable accident ◇ It is a defense against liability for injury if the injury… …   Law dictionary

  • Act of God — is a legal term [cite book |last = Black |first = Henry Campbell |title = Black s Law Dictionary |id = ISBN 0 314 76271 X |publisher = West Publishing Co. |year = 1990 |edition = 6th edition |pages = 33 |location = Saint Paul, Minnesota] for… …   Wikipedia

  • act of God — ˌact of ˈGod noun acts of God PLURALFORM [countable] LAW INSURANCE a natural event such as a storm or an Earthquake. No one can be held to be legally liable for damage caused by an act of God, and insurance companies will not usually make… …   Financial and business terms

  • Act of God — God God (g[o^]d), n. [AS. god; akin to OS. & D. god, OHG. got, G. gott, Icel. gu[eth], go[eth], Sw. & Dan. gud, Goth. gup, prob. orig. a p. p. from a root appearing in Skr. h[=u], p. p. h[=u]ta, to call upon, invoke, implore. [root]30. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Act of God — est le cinquième album studio du groupe Pro Pain sorti en 1999. Liste des chansons Stand Tall 2:41 In for the Kill 3:08 Act of God 3:02 On Parade 2:28 I Remain 2:19 Time Will Tell 3:36 Pride 2:26 Love And War 3:08 Hopeless? 2:33 Burn 3:23 All… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • act\ of\ God — • act of God • fickle finger of fate • the fickle finger of fate noun An occurrence (usually some sort of catastrophe) for which the people affected are not responsible; said of earthquakes, floods, etc. Hurricane Andrew destroyed many houses in… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • act of god — An act of God is something like an earthquake or floods that human beings cannot prevent or control …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • act of God — ► act of God an instance of uncontrollable natural forces in operation. Main Entry: ↑act …   English terms dictionary

  • act of God — noun count an event such as a flood, LIGHTNING, or an EARTHQUAKE that is produced by natural forces, and that people have no control over …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • act of God — act′ of God′ n. law a sudden action of natural forces that could not have been prevented, as an earthquake or hurricane • Etymology: 1855–60 …   From formal English to slang

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