Dictionary

enact en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɪˈnækt/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English enacten, from en-, from Old French en- (“to cause to be”), from Latin in- (“in”) and Old French acte (“perform, do”), from Latin actum, past participle of ago (“set in motion”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To make (a bill) into law.
   • The practical effect of the Government's new anti-strike bill on the rail disputes in Great Britain is awaited, after the legislation was enacted. 2023 December 27, Mel Holley, “Network News: Minimum Service Levels legislation comes into force”, in RAIL, number 999, page 14:
2. (transitive) To act the part of; to play.
   • I did enact Julius Caesar. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
3. (transitive) To do; to effect.
   • The king enacts more wonders than a man. c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]:

Forms

Deriveds

enacter · enactable · unenacted · enaction · enactor · coenact · preenact · enactment · enacture · reenact · enactably · enactability · enactive

Relateds

act

Synonyms

act out · perform

Translations (43)

fi esittää (to act the part of; to play) · ru постановлять (to make (a bill) into law) · sv uppföra (to act the part of; to play) · sv utföra (to do; to effect) · bg прокарвам (to make (a bill) into law) · es interpretar (to act the part of; to play) · sv föreskriva (to make (a bill) into law) · it interpretare (to act the part of; to play) · gv slattysee (to make (a bill) into law) · bg играя ролята на (to act the part of; to play) · es enactuar (to make (a bill) into law) · pt passar (to make (a bill) into law) · mi pāhi (to make (a bill) into law) · de ausführen (to do; to effect) · gv cloie (to act the part of; to play) · sv stadga (to make (a bill) into law) · grc νομίζω (to make (a bill) into law) · fi näytellä (to act the part of; to play) · es enactuar (to act the part of; to play) · fi säätää laki (to make (a bill) into law) · la scisco (to do; to effect) · fi hyväksyä laki (to make (a bill) into law) · el θεσπίζω (to make (a bill) into law) · it promulgare (to make (a bill) into law) · it realizzare (to do; to effect) · fr promulguer (to make (a bill) into law) · fr jouer (to act the part of; to play) · ru игра́ть (to act the part of; to play) · ga achtaigh (to make (a bill) into law) · pt interpretar (to act the part of; to play) · ru принима́ть (to make (a bill) into law) · fi soveltaa (to do; to effect) · la scisco (to act the part of; to play) · it approvare (to make (a bill) into law) · pt promulgar (to make (a bill) into law) · ga reachtaigh (to make (a bill) into law) · mi whakature (to make (a bill) into law) · de spielen (to act the part of; to play) · it apportare (to do; to effect) · sv spela (to act the part of; to play) · pt realizar (to do; to effect) · la scisco (to make (a bill) into law) · sv anta (to make (a bill) into law)