Act \Act\ ([a^]kt), n. [L. actus, fr. agere to drive, do: cf. F.
   acte. See Agent.]
   1. That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the
      effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a
      performance; a deed.
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            That best portion of a good man's life,
            His little, nameless, unremembered acts
            Of kindness and of love.              --Wordsworth.
      [1913 Webster] Hence, in specific uses:
      (a) The result of public deliberation; the decision or
          determination of a legislative body, council, court of
          justice, etc.; a decree, edit, law, judgment, resolve,
          award; as, an act of Parliament, or of Congress.
      (b) A formal solemn writing, expressing that something has
          been done. --Abbott.
      (c) A performance of part of a play; one of the principal
          divisions of a play or dramatic work in which a
          certain definite part of the action is completed.
      (d) A thesis maintained in public, in some English
          universities, by a candidate for a degree, or to show
          the proficiency of a student.
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   2. A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a
      possibility or possible existence. [Obs.]
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            The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in
            possibility, what they afterward grow to be.
                                                  --Hooker.
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   3. Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on
      the point of (doing). "In act to shoot." --Dryden.
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            This woman was taken . . . in the very act. --John
                                                  viii. 4.
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   Act of attainder. (Law) See Attainder.

   Act of bankruptcy (Law), an act of a debtor which renders
      him liable to be adjudged a bankrupt.

   Act of faith. (Ch. Hist.) See Auto-da-F['e].

   Act of God (Law), an inevitable accident; such
      extraordinary interruption of the usual course of events
      as is not to be looked for in advance, and against which
      ordinary prudence could not guard.

   Act of grace, an expression often used to designate an act
      declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at
      the beginning of a new reign.

   Act of indemnity, a statute passed for the protection of
      those who have committed some illegal act subjecting them
      to penalties. --Abbott.

   Act in pais, a thing done out of court (anciently, in the
      country), and not a matter of record.
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   Syn: See Action.
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Faith \Faith\ (f[=a]th), n. [OE. feith, fayth, fay, OF. feid,
   feit, fei, F. foi, fr. L. fides; akin to fidere to trust, Gr.
   pei`qein to persuade. The ending th is perhaps due to the
   influence of such words as truth, health, wealth. See Bid,
   Bide, and cf. Confide, Defy, Fealty.]
   1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is
      declared by another, resting solely and implicitly on his
      authority and veracity; reliance on testimony.
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   2. The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of
      another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he
      utters; firm and earnest belief, on probable evidence of
      any kind, especially in regard to important moral truth.
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            Faith, that is, fidelity, -- the fealty of the
            finite will and understanding to the reason.
                                                  --Coleridge.
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   3. (Judeo-Christian Theol.)
      (a) The belief in the historic truthfulness of the
          Scripture narrative, and the supernatural origin of
          its teachings, sometimes called historical and
          speculative faith.
      (b) (Christian Theol.) The belief in the facts and truth
          of the Scriptures, with a practical love of them;
          especially, that confiding and affectionate belief in
          the person and work of Christ, which affects the
          character and life, and makes a man a true Christian,
          -- called a practical, evangelical, or saving faith.
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                Without faith it is impossible to please him
                [God].                            --Heb. xi. 6.
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                The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the
                mind which is called "trust" or "confidence"
                exercised toward the moral character of God, and
                particularly of the Savior.       --Dr. T.
                                                  Dwight.
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                Faith is an affectionate, practical confidence
                in the testimony of God.          --J. Hawes.
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   4. That which is believed on any subject, whether in science,
      politics, or religion; especially (Theol.), a system of
      religious belief of any kind; as, the Jewish or Mohammedan
      faith; the Christian faith; also, the creed or belief of a
      Christian society or church.
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            Which to believe of her,
            Must be a faith that reason without miracle
            Could never plant in me.              --Shak.
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            Now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
                                                  --Gal. i. 23.
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   5. Fidelity to one's promises, or allegiance to duty, or to a
      person honored and beloved; loyalty.
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            Children in whom is no faith.         --Deut. xxvii.
                                                  20.
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            Whose failing, while her faith to me remains,
            I should conceal.                     --Milton.
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   6. Word or honor pledged; promise given; fidelity; as, he
      violated his faith.
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            For you alone
            I broke me faith with injured Palamon. --Dryden.
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   7. Credibility or truth. [R.]
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            The faith of the foregoing narrative. --Mitford.
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   Act of faith. See Auto-da-f['e].

   Breach of faith, Confession of faith, etc. See under
      Breach, Confession, etc.

   Faith cure, a method or practice of treating diseases by
      prayer and the exercise of faith in God.

   In good faith, with perfect sincerity.
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