to act a part
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Act \Act\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acting.] [L. actus, p. p. of agere to drive, lead, do; but influenced by E. act, n.]
1.To move to action; to actuate; to animate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul.— Pope.[1913 Webster]
2.To perform; to execute; to do. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]
That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity.— Jer. Taylor.[1913 Webster]
Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting things expedient for us to do.— Barrow.[1913 Webster]
Uplifted hands that at convenient times Could act extortion and the worst of crimes.— Cowper.[1913 Webster]
3.To perform, as an actor; to represent dramatically on the stage. [1913 Webster]
4.To assume the office or character of; to play; to personate; as, to act the hero. [1913 Webster]
5.To feign or counterfeit; to simulate. [1913 Webster]
With acted fear the villain thus pursued.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
To act a part, to sustain the part of one of the characters in a play; hence, to simulate; to dissemble.
To act the part of, to take the character of; to fulfill the duties of. [1913 Webster]