different between perform vs enact

English

Etymology

From Middle English performen, parfournen (“to perform”), from Anglo-Norman performer, parfourmer, alteration of Old French parfornir, parfurnir (“to complete, accomplish, perform”), from par- + fornir, furnir (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Frankish *frumjan (“to accomplish, furnish”), from Proto-Germanic *frumjan?, *framjan? (“to further, promote”), from Proto-Indo-European *promo- (“in front, forth”), *per- (“forward, out”). Cognate with Old High German frummen (“to do, execute, accomplish, provide”), Old Saxon frummian (“to perform, promote”), Old English fremman (“to perform, execute, carry out, accomplish”), Gothic ???????????????????????????? (frumjan, “to promote, accomplish”). See also frame, from.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p??f??m/, enPR: p?r-fôrm?
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p??f??m/, enPR: p?r-fôrm?
• Rhymes: -??(?)m
• Hyphenation: per?form

Verb

perform (third-person singular simple present performs, present participle performing, simple past and past participle performed)

1. (transitive) To do (something); to execute.
2. (intransitive) To exhibit an expected pattern of behavior; to function; to work.

3. (law) To act in a way set forth in a contract.
   1. (transitive) To act in accordance with (a contract); to fulfill one’s terms of (a contract).

   2. (intransitive) To fulfill contractually agreed-to terms.

4. (transitive, intransitive) To do (something) in front of an audience, such as acting or music, often in order to entertain.
5. (by extension, transitive) To behave theatrically so as to give the impression of (a quality, character trait, etc.); to feign.
6. (social sciences) Of a social actor, to behave in certain ways.
   1. (transitive) To behave in accordance with, and thereby in turn shape, (a social notion or role).

   2. (intransitive) To behave in ways that carry meaning in social contexts.

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• perform in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• perform in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• perform at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• preform

English

Etymology

From Middle English enacten, from en-, from Old French en- (“to cause to be”), from Latin in- (“in”) and Old French acte (“perform, do”), from Latin actum, past participle of ago (“set in motion”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??nækt/
• Rhymes: -ækt

Verb

enact (third-person singular simple present enacts, present participle enacting, simple past and past participle enacted)

1. (transitive, law) to make (a bill) into law
2. (transitive) to act the part of; to play
3. (transitive) to do; to effect

Derived terms

Related terms

• act

Translations

Noun

enact

1. (obsolete) purpose; determination