underact
|un-der-act|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌʌndərˈækt/
🇬🇧
/ˌʌndəˈrækt/
subtle performance
Etymology
Etymology Information
'underact' originates from the prefix 'under-' meaning 'below' or 'less than' combined with 'act' from Latin 'actum', meaning 'to do'.
Historical Evolution
'underact' evolved from the combination of 'under-' and 'act', maintaining its meaning of performing with less intensity.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to act with less intensity', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to perform a role in a restrained or subtle manner, often less dramatically than expected.
The actor chose to underact the scene to convey a sense of calm.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42