| 释义 |
▪ I. acting, vbl. n.|ˈæktɪŋ|
[f. act v. + -ing1.]
1. The process of carrying out into action; performance, execution.
1601Shakes. Jul. C. ii. i. 63 Betweene the acting of a dreadfull thing, And the first motion. 1853F. Robertson Serm. Ser. i. viii. 124 Let impression pass on at once to acting.
2. The performance of deeds, doing, continued action, practice; in pl. doings, practices, proceedings, conduct. Usually with reference to the manner or character of what is done.
1603–5Sir J. Melvil Mem. (1735) 267 So to direct my Actings as they might tend to his Glory. 1649Cromwell in Southey Common-Pl. Bk. Ser. ii. (1849) 128 It's easie to object to the glorious actinges of God—if we look too much upon instruments. 1722De Foe Hist. Plague (1754) 10 Rather for a Direction to themselves to act by, than a History of my Actings. 1825Ld. Cockburn Mem. own Time iii. 164 The past actings of Courts ought not to be merely stated, but criticised and appreciated. 1826Scott Woodst. viii. (1846) 88 The great actings which are now on foot in these nations.
3. a. The performing of plays or other fictitious scenes and incidents, playing, dramatic performance; feigning a character not one's own, simulation.
1664Pepys Diary (1879) III. 80 The play not good, nor anything but the good actings of Betterton and his Wife and Harris. 1761Churchill Rosciad Poems 1763 I. 31 Whose Acting's hard, affected, and constrain'd. 1779Sheridan Critic i. i. 450, I speak only with reference to the usual length of acting plays. 1856Froude Hist. Eng. I. 61 Acting was the especial amusement of the English, from the palace to the village green.
b. acting over: A re-enacting, repetition.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 171 Making the creatures of one Element, but an acting over those of an other.
c. acting out (esp. in Psychiatry): (abnormal behaviour caused by) the representation of unconscious impulses, desires, etc., in (often anti-social) action. See act v. 5.
1945O. Fenichel in Psychoanal. Rev. XXXII. 197 ‘Acting out’, as distinguished from the other phenomena, is an acting, not a mere feeling, not a mere thinking, not a mere mimic expression, not a mere single movement. This..distinguishes it from symptom formation. 1955T. H. Pear Eng. Social Differences 27 The conscious identification of an individual with a social class, and the acting-out of this identification with organizational participation. 1963New Society 7 Nov. 22/2 A group of bright boys who have acting-out problems that prevent them from following a formal programme. 1975Christian II. 228 The third such mechanism is testing out the bonds that are developing between the patient and therapist... Frequently this involves ‘acting-out behaviour’, as we [sc. psychotherapists] call it, asserting a spurious independence through behaviour obviously ill-advised, usually thoroughly unwise.
4. The putting forth of energy or activity, working, operation.
1647J. Sprigge Angl. Rediv. i. i. 2 This did but put nature upon more vigorous and industrious actings to defend itself. 1754Edwards Freed. Will i. §1, 2 There is nothing else in the Actings of my Mind, that I am conscious of while I walk. 1833Chalmers Constit. Man iv (1835) I. 173 The actings and reactings that take place between man and man. 1846H. E. Manning Serm. (1848) II. ii. 30 The continual actings of the desires, lusts, imaginations, leave soils and stains.
5. a. Comb. acting-order, i.e. order for acting in a certain capacity; spec. a temporary appointment to a vacant position made by one entitled to do so, but which may or may not be confirmed by the superior authority. acting manager, a person responsible for arranging the scenery, costumes and acting of a play (often himself an actor); producer; hence acting management.
1733B. Victor Mem. Life B. Booth 7 And the part of Cato was given to Mr. Booth by two of his Masters, who were Acting Managers. 1804Nelson in Nicolas Despatches VI. 199, I..have appointed Mr. Edward Flin, of the Victory, to act in the Bittern..a copy of whose Acting-Order is also herewith transmitted..I therefore hope their Lordships will confirm the appointment. 1829H. Foote Compan. Theatres 30 In 1795, a share was purchased by John Grubb, Esq. to whom Mr. Kemble resigned the acting management. 1836Marryat Midship. Easy (1863) 213, I really think that an acting order would do more than the doctor can. 1860Players I. 138 He has also had the acting management during the summer months of the Surrey Gardens. 1879C. E. Pascoe Dram. List 237/1 Acting and Stage Manager: George Bartley.
b. Suitable for dramatic performance; spec. susceptible of being performed well (cf. act v. 8 b).
1768D. Garrick Let. 26 Mar. (1831) I. 295 Also five copies of all the acting plays and farces half-bound. 1825P. Egan Life of Actor 203 The School of Adversity..is one of the best acting plays in the whole catalogue of the drama. 1827J. Boaden Mem. Mrs. Siddons II. 244 The Cleopatra of Dryden..did not range among her acting parts. 1829Harlequin 20 June 43 The third act—the finest portion of our acting drama—was consequently inefficient. 1854A. C. Mowatt Autobiogr. of Actress 203, I designed the play wholly as an acting comedy. 1898L. Merrick Actor-Manager 234 It was a finer acting-scene for Blanche than for himself. 1901C. Morris Life on Stage 142 It was an excellent acting part, very sweet and tenderly pathetic in the first act.
c. Applied to versions of plays specially prepared for actors' use (provided with full stage-directions, etc.), as acting copy, acting edition, acting version.
1844J. Cowell Thirty Years among Players (1845) i. vii. 19/2, I went home and read Ross and Lennox from the acting copy. 1850[see copy n. 6]. 1850(title) Lacy's acting edition of plays. 1855W. B. Wood Pers. Recoll. Stage 185, I could not, however, but regret that he had not adopted the acting version which we formerly used. 1910W. W. Greg Shaks. Merry W. Introd. 31 These four scenes cannot have been altogether omitted in the acting version. 1942G. Mitchell Laurels are Poison xiv. 162 An ‘acting copy’ of Richard of Bordeaux.
▪ II. acting, ppl. a.|ˈæktɪŋ|
[f. act v. + -ing2.]
1. Performing (dramatically).
b. acting-out (esp. in Psychiatry): that acts out an unconscious impulse, repressed desire, etc., often through anti-social behaviour. See act v. 5.
1945O. Fenichel in Psychoanal. Rev. XXXII. 201 The ‘acting out–neurotic characters’, who otherwise are comparable to addicts. 1974H. L. Foster Ribbin' i. 15 There also happen to be quite a number of seriously disturbed and aggressive acting-out youngsters as well as physically handicapped children inhabiting our schools.
2. Performing functions, putting forth activity.
1597Daniel Civile Wares vii. xxxiv, The acting spirits up and awake doe keepe.
3. Performing temporary or special duties; on temporary service. As a qualifying adj.
1797Nelson in Nicolas Despatches VII. 133 The Gunner of the Peterell not having joined, I shall put John Brady acting into the Peterell. 1836Marryat Midsh. Easy xxv, He..served his time, was acting lieutenant for two years and then somehow or other he bore up for the Church. 1873Porcupine 24 May 124/1 The proud position of acting editor of the Mail is a far higher honour than that of any collector of Customs, acting or inactive. 1946J. Irving Royal Navalese 19 Acting Unpaid. A rating who is granted permission by his Captain to wear some badge or mark of rank..although, by regulation, he is not entitled to it and cannot therefore be paid accordingly.
¶ In senses 2 and 3 it is used esp. as a qualifying adj. to official titles, meaning either doing duty temporarily, as acting-captain; or doing duty solely, though nominally associated with another or others who take no practical share in the work, as acting-manager, acting-secretary, acting-trustees, acting-executors, etc.
1801Nelson in Nicolas Despatches IV. 287 Our friend Troubridge will tell you his opinion of the present Acting-Captain of the San Josef. 1832H. Martineau Hill & Valley ii. 19 He resolved..to be an acting partner. |