actor

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂eǵ-
2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éǵeti
3. Proto-Italic*agō
4. Latinagō
5. Latināctus
6. Latināctor
7. Middle Englishactour
8. English todayactor

Inherited from Middle English actour, from Anglo-Norman actor, Middle French actor, and their source, Latin āctor (“doer”), from agō (“to do”). Equivalent to act + -or. Cognate with Ancient Greek ἄκτωρ (áktōr, “leader”), from ἄγω (ágō, “lead, carry, convey, bring”).

First known use, by meaning

• 13th–19th c. Someone who institutes a legal suit; a plaintiff or complainant.
• 14th–18th c. Someone acting on behalf of someone else; a guardian.
• from 15th c. Someone or something that takes part in some action; a doer, an agent.
• from 16th c. A person who acts a part in a theatrical play or (later) in film or television; a dramatic performer.
• 16th–19th c. An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes.
• from 18th c. The subject performing the action of a verb.