As between act and deed, deed is commonly used of great, notable, and impressive acts, as are achievement, exploit, and feat.įestus: We live in deeds, not years in thoughts, not breaths.Ī feat exhibits strength, skill, personal power, whether mental or physical, especially the latter as, a feat of arms, a feat of memory. In connection with other words act is more usually qualified by the use of another noun, action by an adjective preceding we may say a kind act, though oftener an act of kindness, but only a kind action, not an action of kindness. Act and deed are both used for the thing done, but act refers to the power put forth, deed to the result accomplished as, a voluntary act, a bad deed. Morally, the act of murder is in the determination to kill legally, the act is not complete without the striking of the fatal blow.

In this sense an act does not necessarily imply an external effect, while an action does. Act is used, also, for the simple exertion of power as, an act of will. We speak of the action of an acid upon a metal, not of its act. We say a virtuous act, but rather a virtuous course of action.

Act is therefore single, individual, momentary action a complex of acts, or a process, state, or habit of exerting power.

An act is strictly and originally something accomplished by an exercise of power, in which sense it is synonymous with deed or effect.

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