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   Ac·tu·ate

   /ˈak(t)SHəˌwāt/

   

   verb

   • 1. cause (a machine or device) to operate: "the pendulum actuates an electrical switch" Similar activateoperateswitch onturn onstart upset goingget goingstart offtrigger offtriggertripset in motioninitiateinitializeenergizeanimate
   • 2. cause (someone) to act in a particular way; motivate: "the defendants were actuated by malice" Similar motivatestimulatemovedriverousestirstir upfirefire uparousepromptincitespark offinfluenceimpelspur onurgegoadrare:activate

   Word Origin late 16th century: from medieval Latin actuat- ‘carried out, caused to operate’, from the verb actuare, from Latin actus (see act). The original sense was ‘carry out in practice’, later ‘stir into activity, enliven’; actuate (sense 1) dates from the mid 17th century.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • T

     1

   • U

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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