enact

English

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”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɪˈnækt/
Audio (US): (file)
Rhymes: -ækt

Verb

enact (third-person singular simple present enacts, present participle enacting, simple past and past participle enacted)

(transitive, law) To make (a bill) into law.
- 2023 December 27, Mel Holley, “Network News: Minimum Service Levels legislation comes into force”, in RAIL, number 999, page 14:
  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.
(transitive) To act the part of; to play.
- 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]:
  I did enact Julius Caesar.
(transitive) To do; to effect.
- 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]:
  The king enacts more wonders than a man.

Derived terms

Related terms

act

Translations

to make (a bill) into law

Bulgarian: прокарвам (bg) (prokarvam)
Finnish: säätää laki, hyväksyä laki
French: promulguer (fr)
Greek: θεσπίζω (el) (thespízo)
Ancient: νομίζω (nomízō)
Irish: reachtaigh, achtaigh
Italian: promulgare (it), approvare (it)
Latin: scisco
Manx: slattysee
Maori: whakature, pāhi
Portuguese: promulgar (pt), passar (pt)
Russian: постановлять (ru) (postanovljatʹ), принима́ть (ru) (prinimátʹ)
Spanish: promulgar (es)
Swedish: anta (sv), stadga (sv), föreskriva (sv)

to act the part of; to play

Bulgarian: играя ролята на (igraja roljata na)
Finnish: näytellä (fi), esittää (fi)
French: jouer (fr)
German: spielen (de)
Italian: interpretare (it)
Latin: scisco
Manx: cloie
Portuguese: interpretar (pt)
Russian: игра́ть (ru) (igrátʹ)
Spanish: interpretar (es)
Swedish: spela (sv), uppföra (sv)

to do; to effect

Finnish: soveltaa (fi)
German: ausführen (de)
Italian: realizzare (it), apportare (it)
Latin: scisco
Portuguese: realizar (pt)
Spanish: hacer efecto
Swedish: utföra (sv)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

Spanish: actuar (es)