acrylic

[ACROLEIN.] acrylic acid, S. (C3H4O3=C2H3COOH.) Chem. A monatomic organic acid obtained by oxidation of acrolein. It is a colourle liquid; its salts are soluble. It is converted by nascent hydrogen into propionic acid. It is isomeric with iso-acrylic acid. When acrylic acid is fused with caustic potash it eliminates hydrogen, and forms acetate and formate of pota ium. IMG:content-0136.png:[blocks in formation] *ăcse, v. [A.S. acsian, achsian = to ask.] Το ask. [Ask.] "The kyng Alesandre acsede Hwan sal that be."- Reliq . Antiq ., 1. 30. act, *ack ( Eng.), and * ǎkk (0. Scotch ), v.t. & i. [ACT, s.] A. Transitive : I. Ordinary Language: *1. To actuate, to drive, to incite, to influence, to urge. "Most people in the world are acted by levity and humour, by strange and irrational changes."- South . 2. To do, to achieve, to perform. (Used in a good sense.) "With emulation what I act survey." Pope: Homer ; Iliad , xix. 152. 3. To perpetrate, to commit, to be guilty of, as a fault, a crime, or an offence. (Used in a bad sense.) "Uplifted hands, that at convenient times Could act extortion and the worst of crimes." Cowper: Expostulation, 147. 4. To obey, to do according to; to carry out, to execute. "Th' unwilling heralds act their lord's commands Pensive they walk along the barren sands." Pope : Homer ; Iliad 1, 426. 5. To play the part of, to behave as: as, To act the fool. II. Technically : 1. Dram.: To play the part of, to impersonate, to represent dramatically upon the stage or elsewhere. the masks and plays which were acted in the court."-Froude: Hist. Eng., ch. 1 In this sense it is sometimes followed by the preposition over. "How many ages hence, Shall this our lofty scene be acted over In states unborn, and accents yet unknown?" shakesp.: Julius Cæsar , iii. 1. 2. Scotch Law: To require by judicial authority. "Nearly the same with English enact, with this difference, that there is a transition from the deed to the person whom it regards." (Jamie son.) "Seeing I am act it in the buikes of the said committee not to depart off the towne without licence."Acts Cha . I., ed. 1814, v. 361. For example of ack , see Acts Dom. Conc. (A.D. 1491), p. 221; and of akk , Ibid ., 1493, p. 310. To act upon: To exert power over or upon, to produce an effect upon. "The stomach, the intestines, the muscles of the lower belly, all act upon the aliment."-Arbuthnot on Aliment. "All the waves of the spectrum, from the extreme red to the extre extreme violet, are thus acted upon."Tyndall: Frag. of Science , 3rd ed., vii. 142. To act up to : To act in a manner not inferior to what one's promises, profe ions, reputation, or advantages would lead people to expect. vigorously to exert those powers and act up to those advantages."-Rogers: Sermons. IMG:content-0137.png:[blocks in formation] Words worth: Excursion, bk. iv. "And I may now cry act! ' but the potency of action must be yours."-Tyndall: Frag. of Science, 3rd ed., v. 103. 2. To conduct one's self in a particular manner, to behave. "Tis plain that she, who for a kingdom now Would sacrifice her love, and break her vow, Not out of love, but interest, acts alone, And would, ev'n in my arms, lie thinking of a throne. Dryden: 1 Conquest of Granada , ii. 1. 3. To take part in dramatic representation on the boards of a theatre or elsewhere. 69 "Or wrap himself in Hamlet's inky cloak, And strut and storm, and straddle, stamp and stare, To show the world how Garrick did not act." Cowper: Task , bk. vi. II. Of things: To exert power, to produce an effect. In general to or upon is prefixed to the object operated upon; sometimes, however, by is used instead of to . [ACT UPON (A. III.).] "And such, I exclaimed, is the pitile part Some act by delicate mind, Regardle of wringing and breaking a heart Already to sorrow resigned." Cowper : The Rose.