actuate

Etymology

From Medieval Latin āctuātus, perfect passive participle of āctuō (“actuate, implement”), from Latin āctus, perfect passive participle of agō (“do, act”).

verb

1. (transitive) To activate, or to put into motion; to animate.
   Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual motion. November 6, 1750, Samuel Johnson, The Rambler No. 67
2. (transitive) To incite to action; to motivate.
   1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral, 2. ed., London, Oxford University Press, 1973. § 11. A man in a fit of anger, is actuated in a very different manner from one who only thinks of that emotion.