ag-, agen-, act-, agi-, agit-

Translation: "Inference from what has happened to what will happen is valid."

The social worker was urged to consider ab actu ad posse valet illatio when assessing a case of potential child abuse.

1. Translation: "Out of action."

The long distance runner was deemed ab agendo because of her broken leg.

2. Obsolete or retired: The farmer's old tractor was considered ab agendo and so it could only be sold as an antique.

1. Something that is done or a deed that is performed: Sam expressed an act of kindness when he saw a homeless woman and offered to get her a hamburger and a drink from a sandwich shop.

Hank did a series of acts of kindness for the poor woman who lived next door.

2. A process of doing certain things: The neighbor's son was caught in three acts of stealing.
3. The main divisions of a play or an opera: The drama that the audience attended had five acts.
4. Displays of affected or pretended behavior: Sharon is not really angry. She has been putting on these acts just to get attention.

1. To do something; to exert energy or some force; to be employed or operative: Henry acted promptly in helping the people in the auto accident.
2. To reach, to make, or to issue a decision on some matter: The members congregated to act on the bill.
3. To operate or function in a particular way; to perform specific duties or functions: Shirley was acting as a child's substitute mother until her parents were able to return home.

Deeds: The term acta was used in ancient Rome to refer to an account of actions or achievements.

Translation: "The drama has been acted out" or "The play is over."

Acta est fabula was used at the close of a dramatic performance in the ancient Roman theater.

Acta est fabula are said to be the dying words of Emperor Caesar Augustus.

The maxim Acta est fabula may be appropriately spoken whenever a life or an unfolding event comes to an unhappy end or is simply concluded.

Translation: "Deeds of the saints."

The acta sanctorum involves the lives of the Christian martyrs and saints that are used in teaching the faith.

1. A process or state of functioning: Jesse was told by the mechanic that his car was not in action yet.

An action may apply to more than one procedure and therefore it often suggests continued or repeated efforts over a period of time.

2. A process that one consciously does and which may be characterized by physical or mental procedures: Ted was told that getting his work assignment done was a crisis that demanded action and not an argument.

1. To set in motion: Some students at school played a prank and activated the fire alarm.
2. To organize or to create a military unit: The governor had to activate the National Guard to help the people after the hurricane.
3. To treat (sewage) with aeration and bacteria to aid decomposition: Air and bacteria helped to activate and facilitate the decaying process of the compost in the garden so that it could be used later as very good soil.
4. In chemistry, to accelerate a reaction in something: In class the teacher showed the students how heat helped to activate certain substances.
5. In physics, to make a substance radioactive: Jane learned in her physics class that it was possible to make or to activate something radioactive by exposing it to the influence of a radioactive matter.
6. In biology, to convert certain biological compounds into a biologically functioning derivative: The students read about how enzymes were activated, or how a molecule or cell was activated into a structure that performed a certain action.

A highly porous form of carbon, typically from wood, lignite, coal, or coconut shells: Activated carbon is widely used as a filtration medium with the purpose of removing taste and odor from water by absorbing organic compounds.

The semi-liquid, microbe-rich sediment that is added to secondary stage sewage material: Activated sludge is the waste matter that has been aired and churned in order to facilitate the growth of useful microorganisms which then decompose organic substances.

A widely used method for sewage treatment that raises the level of biological activity: An activated sludge process takes place due to an increase of contact between wastewater and actively growing micro-organisms.

1. The process of making active and effective: The plight of Stella's missing kitten prompted the activation of all of the neighbours to hunt for it.
2. Stimulation of activity in an organism or chemical: In medicine, activation can be the response of a stimulant on a nerve or on an organ.
3. The activity of causing to have energy and to be active: Rose's little baby slowly showed some activation as she started to wiggle and make cooing sounds.
4. In medicine, the deliberate induction of a pattern of electrical activity in the brain: Activation is a method of rousing the brain by light, electricity, chemical agents, or by sound to bring about unusual or a strange activity in the electroencephalography.

Characterized by how something is done in a lively or engaged manner: Jack actively supported the protest against war by taking part in the marches for peach, preparing posters, and making speeches.

1. The trait of moving, doing, or functioning: John's work on the lexicon showed an unbelievable amount of activeness over the years.
2. The quality of moving rapidly and energetically; nimbleness: The activeness of a person slowly declines with age because one is not as quick, light, or agile in movement in comparison to a teenager!