in general, denotes the exertion of power; and differs from power, as the effect from the cause.

Act, among lawyers, is an instrument in writing for declaring or justifying the truth of any thing. In which seance, records, decrees, sentences, reports, certificates, &c. are called Acts.

Acts, also denote the deliberations and resolutions of an assembly, senate, or convocation, as, Acts of parliament, &c.

Act of faith, auta da fe, in the Romish church, is a sort of jail delivery, for the punishment of heretics, and the absolution of those who are found to be innocent. The culprits are first led to church, where their sentence, either of condemnation or absolution, is pronounced, and the guilty are delivered over to the secular power, with an earnest intercession for them, that no blood may be shed. But if they persist in their supposed errors, they are burnt alive. See INQUISITION.

Acts, in dramatic poetry, are the parts or divisions into which tragedies and comedies are generally split. Dramatic compositions usually consist of five acts. But this division is not essentially necessary, but may be varied according to the humour of the author, or the nature of the subject. See DRAMA.

Act of grace. See GRACE.

ACTÆA, in botany, a genus of the polyandria monogymina clasps. There are three species of this plant, viz. the actaea spicata, or bone-berries, which is a native of Britain; the racemosa, which is a native of America; and the cimicifuga, which is a native of Siberia.

ACTIAN games, in Roman antiquity, were solemn games games instituted by Augustus, in memory of his victory over Marc Anthony at Actium, held every fifth year, and celebrated in honour of Apollo, since called Attius. Hence Actian years, an era commencing from the battle of Actium, called the Era of Augustus.