act
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(ăkt) 
n.
v., act·ed, act·ing, acts. v.tr.
actable act'a·ble adj.
n.
- The process of doing or performing something: the act of thinking.
- Something done or performed; a deed: a charitable act.
- A product, such as a statute, decree, or enactment, resulting from a decision by a legislative or judicial body: an act of Congress.
- A formal written record of proceedings or transactions.
- One of the major divisions of a play or opera.
- A performance or entertainment usually forming part of a longer presentation: a juggling act; a magic act.
- The actor or actors presenting such a performance: joined the act in Phoenix.
- A manifestation of intentional or unintentional insincerity; a pose: put on an act.
v., act·ed, act·ing, acts. v.tr.
- To play the part of; assume the dramatic role of: She plans to act Lady Macbeth in summer stock.
- To perform (a role) on the stage: act the part of the villain.
- To behave like or pose as; impersonate: Don't act the fool.
- To behave in a manner suitable for: Act your age.
- To behave or comport oneself: She acts like a born leader.
- To perform in a dramatic role or roles.
- To be suitable for theatrical performance: This scene acts well.
- To behave affectedly or unnaturally; pretend.
- To appear or seem to be: The dog acted ferocious.
- To carry out an action: We acted immediately. The governor has not yet acted on the bill.
- To operate or function in a specific way: His mind acts quickly.
- To serve or function as a substitute for another: A coin can act as a screwdriver.
- To produce an effect: waited five minutes for the anesthetic to act.
act out
- To perform in or as if in a play; represent dramatically: act out a story.
- To realize in action: wanted to act out his theory.
- To express (unconscious impulses, for example) in an overt manner without conscious understanding or regard for social appropriateness.
- To misbehave.
- To malfunction.
- Informal. To become active or troublesome after a period of quiescence: My left knee acts up in damp weather. Her arthritis is acting up again.
be in on the act
- To be included in an activity.
- To improve one's behavior or performance.
- To insert oneself into an ongoing activity, project, or situation.
- To get organized.
[Middle English, from Old French acte, from Latin āctus, a doing, and āctum, a thing done, both from past participle of agere, to drive, do.]
actability ac'ta·bil'i·ty n.actable act'a·ble adj.
USAGE NOTE The words act and action both mean "a deed" and "the process of doing." However, other senses of act, such as "a decision made by a legislative body" and of action, such as "habitual or vigorous activity" show that act tends to refer to a deed while action tends to refer to the process of doing. Thus, people engage in sex acts but not sex actions. By the same token, a person may want a piece of the action, but not a piece of the act. The demands of meaning or idiom will often require one word or the other. But in some cases either can be used: my act (or action) was premature.
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act
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also act up
noun
- The process of doing: action. See action/inaction.
- Something done: action, deed, doing, thing, work. See do/not do.
- The formal product of a legislative or judicial body: assize, bill, enactment, law, legislation, lex, measure, statute. See law.
- A short theatrical piece within a larger production: sketch, skit. See performing arts.
- A display of insincere behavior: acting, disguise, dissemblance, masquerade, pretense, sham, show, simulation. See honest/dishonest, true/false.
verb
- To conduct oneself in a specified way: acquit, bear, behave, carry, comport, demean, deport, do, quit. See be.
- To behave affectedly or insincerely or take on a false or misleading appearance of: counterfeit, dissemble, fake, feign, play-act, pose, pretend, put on, sham, simulate. See honest/dishonest, true/false.
- To react in a specified way: behave, function, operate, perform, work. See action/inaction.
- To perform the duties of another: function, officiate, serve. See do/not do, substitute.
- To play the part of: do, enact, impersonate, perform, play, play-act, portray, represent. See action/inaction, performing arts, substitute.
- To produce on the stage. do, dramatize, enact, give, perform, present, put on, stage. See performing arts.
phrasal verb - act up
- To behave in a rowdy, improper, or unruly fashion: carry on, misbehave. Informal cut up, horse around. See good/bad.
- To work improperly due to mechanical difficulties: malfunction, misbehave. See thrive/fail/exist.
Idioms beginning with act:
action
active duty
act of God
See also catch in the act; clean up (one's act); do a disappearing act; get in the act; get one's act together; hard (tough) act to follow; high-wire act; in the act of; put on an act.
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n
Definition: something done
Antonyms: cessation, idleness, inactivity, inertia, quiet, repose, rest, stoppage, suspension
v
Definition: do something
Antonyms: abstain, cease, discontinue, give up, halt, hesitate, idle, refrain, stop
act, a major division in the action of a play, comprising one or more scenes. A break between acts often coincides with a point at which the plot jumps ahead in time.
On drawings, abbreviation for “actual.”
This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.
Something done; usually, something done intentionally or voluntarily or with a purpose.
The term encompasses not only physical acts — such as turning on the water or purchasing a gun — but also refers to more intangible acts such as adopting a decree, edict, law, judgment, award, or determination. An act may be a private act, done by an individual managing his or her personal affairs, or it may be a public act, done by an official, a council, or a court. When a bill is favorably acted upon in the process of legislation, it becomes an act.
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Act (drama)
For other uses, see Act (disambiguation).
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008) |
An act is a division or unit of a drama. The number of acts in a production can range from one to five or more, depending on how a writer structures the outline of the story. The length of time for an act to be performed usually ranges from 30 to 90 minutes, but may be as few as 10.[1]
The term can also be used for major sections of other entertainment, such as film, television, variety shows, music hall, and cabaret.
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Acts and scenes
The Roman theatre was the first to divide plays into a number of acts separated by intervals. Acts may be further divided into scenes; in classical theater each regrouping between entrances and exits of actors is a scene, while later use describes a change of setting.
Modern plays often have only one level of structure, which can be referred to as either scenes or acts at the whim of the writer; and some writers dispense with firm divisions entirely. Successive scenes are normally separated from each other in either time or place; but the division between acts is more to do with the overall dramatic structure of the piece. The end of an act often coincides with one or more characters making an important decision. A decision which has a profound impact on the story being told.
Many operettas and most musicals are divided into just two acts, so in practice the intermission is seen as dividing them, and the word "act" comes to be used for the two halves of a show whether or not the script divides it into acts.
Three-act play
See also: Three-act structure
In a three-act play, each act usually has a different tone to it. The most commonly used, but not always, is the first act having a lot of introductory elements, the second act can usually be the darkest with the antagonists having a greater encompass, while the third act is the resolution and the protagonists prevailing. There is an age-old saying that "the second act is the best", owing to the fact of it being in between a starting and ending act and thus being able to delve deeper into more of the meat of the story since it does not need to have as prominent introductory or resolutive portions. Of course this is not always so since a third act or even a first act can have the common second act characteristics, but the most used is that type of structure.
Act one
Act I comprises the first quarter of the screenplay (e.g., for a two-hour movie, Act I would last approximately 30 minutes). In this act, the exposition takes place and includes the introduction of the protagonist, the dramatic premise, and the dramatic situation. The inciting Incident (the incident that sets the events of the story in motion) occurs approximately halfway through the first act.
Act two
Act II comprises the next two quarters of the film. The main character encounters an obstacle that prevents the character from achieving his or her dramatic need, approximately halfway through the film. The main character reaches his or her lowest point and seems farthest from fulfilling the dramatic need or objective.
Act three
Act III comprises the final quarter of the film. The climax occurs as well as the dénouement, a brief period of calm at the end of a film where a state of equilibrium returns.
Other numbers of acts
Five-act play
Until the 18th century, most plays were divided into five acts. This format is known as the five-act play, and was famously analyzed by Gustav Freytag in Die Technik des Dramas (Dramatic techniques). The five acts played specific functions in the overall structure of the play; but in performance there was not necessarily any clear separation between them.
A similar five-part structure is also used in traditional Japanese Noh drama, particularly by Zeami Motokiyo. Zeami, in his work "Sandō" (The Three Paths), originally described a five-part (five dan) Noh play as the ideal form. It begins slowly and auspiciously in the first part (jo), building up the drama and tension in the second, third, and fourth parts (ha), with the greatest climax in the third dan, and rapidly concluding with a return to peace and auspiciousness in the fifth dan (kyū).[2]
One-act play
A one-act play is a short drama that consists of only one act; the phrase is not used to describe a full-length play that does not utilise act-divisions. Unlike other plays which usually are published one play per book, one-act plays are often published in anthologies or collections.
Other media
- As part of a television program, each individual act can be separated by commercials.
- In film, each individual act is usually separated with a break in the action or plot development. Traditionally, this is accomplished with a change in music from whatever is standard for the film to something more light.[dubious ]
See also
References
- ^ George, Kathleen (1994). Playwriting: The First Workshop. Focal Press. ISBN 0-240-80190-3.
- ^ Quinn, Shelley Fenno. "How to write a Noh play - Zeami's Sandō." Monumenta Nipponica, vol 48, issue 1 (Spring 1993). pp58-62
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Translations:
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Act
Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - spille, fremstille, fremføre
v. intr. - opføre sig, reagere
n. - handling, dåd, gerning
idioms:
- a hard act to follow noget at leve op til
- act a part spille en rolle, spille komedie
- act as optræde som, fungere som
- act big te sig som om man ejer det hele
- act of God force majeure
- act of war krigshandling
- act on handle efter, handle i følge
- act out gennemføre, føre ud i livet
- act the fool spille klovn, skabe sig
- act up gøre knuder, stritte imod
- act upon handle efter, handle i følge
- get in on the act få lov at være med, få lov at give sit besyv med
- get one's act together får orden på tingene, få styr på tingene
- put on an act spille komedie, skabe sig
abbr. - forudbetalt udbytteskat, acetylcholine
Nederlands (Dutch)
toneelspelen, op bepaalde wijze zich gedragen, daadkrachtig handelen, optreden (als), effect hebben (b.v. medicijn), doen alsof, daad/handeling, wet, opvoering/sketch, schertsvertoning, (mv) besluiten etc. van commissie, bedrijf (in toneel/ballet etc.), akte
Français (French)
v. tr. - (Théât) jouer, tenir, (Théât, fig) tenir le rôle de
v. intr. - agir, (Admin) statuer, se comporter, se conduire, (Théât) jouer, servir, faire office de, (Méd, Chim) agir sur
n. - acte, action, (Jur) loi, (Jur) document légal, (Relig) Actes, numéro (de cirque), acte (d'une pièce), (fig) comédie, (fig) cinéma
idioms:
- a hard act to follow une performance difficile à égaler
- act a part tenir un rôle
- act as agir en tant que
- act big jouer le grand jeu, vouloir impressionner
- act of God catastrophe naturelle
- act of war acte de guerre
- act on suivre, se conformer à, exécuter
- act out faire un récit mimé de, exprimer, mimer, vivre (des fantasmes)
- act the fool faire l'idiot
- act up se conduire mal, faire des caprices
- act upon suivre, se conformer à, exécuter
- be in on the act s'imposer, s'y mettre
- get in on the act s'imposer
- get one's act together se reprendre en main
- in the act of sur le fait, en flagrant délit
- put on an act jouer la comédie
abbr. - (abrév) examen d'une université américaine, (abrév) syndicat d'enseignants (aux Etats-Unis)
Deutsch (German)
v. - handeln, vorgehen, spielen, schauspielern, wirken
n. - Handlung, Tat, Vorgehen, Gesetz, Akt, Aufzug, Akte, Schriftstück
idioms:
- a hard act to follow schwer nachzuahmen
- act a part eine Rolle spielen
- act as auftreten als, amtieren als
- act big protzen, sich aufplustern
- act of God höhere Gewalt, Naturereignis
- act of war kriegerischer Akt, Kriegshandlung
- act on befolgen, nachkommen, einwirken auf, beeinflussen
- act out szenisch darstellen
- act the fool herumalbern
- act up nicht richtig funktionieren, (ugs) Theater machen, (salopp) verrückt spielen
- act upon befolgen, nachkommen, einwirken auf, beeinflussen
- be in on the act in das Geschäft einsteigen, mitmischen
- get in on the act auf den fahrenden Zug aufspringen
- get one's act together sich zusammenreißen
- in the act of gerade dabei sein, etw. zu tun
- put on an act Theater spielen
abbr. - Distrikt der australianischen Hauptstadt, amerikanischer Gymnasialtest, Lehrerverband
Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - ενεργώ, δρω, συμπεριφέρομαι, υποκρίνομαι, προσποιούμαι, παριστάνω (κν. κάνω), υποδύομαι, παίζω θέατρο, αντικαθιστώ, εκτελώ καθήκοντα
n. - πράξη, ενέργεια, νομοθετική πράξη, νόμος, θεατρική πράξη, νούμερο (επιθεώρησης), διάβημα, προσποίηση, προσποιητό ύφος, σεξουαλική πράξη, συνουσία
idioms:
- a hard act to follow αξεπέραστο κατόρθωμα
- act a part υποδύομαι (θεατρικό κτλ.) ρόλο
- act as ενεργώ ως, ενεργώ υπό την ιδιότητα του...
- act big κάνω τον σπουδαίο
- act of God (νομ.) ανωτέρα βία, θεομηνία
- act of war πολεμική ενέργεια
- act on ενεργώ κατά ή σύμφωνα με.., επιδρώ σε.., παίρνω μέτρα σχετικά με
- act out αναπαριστάνω
- act the fool κάνω το βλάκα, κάνω τον κλόουν
- act up κάνω παρατράγουδα, κάνω σκέρτσα ή καμώματα
- act upon επιδρώ σε, ενεργώ σύμφωνα με
- get in on the act (καθομ.) μπαίνω στο κόλπο
- get one's act together (καθομ.) αναδιοργανώνομαι, σοβαρεύομαι
- put on an act υποκρίνομαι, παίζω θέατρο
Italiano (Italian)
procedere, agire, operare, comportarsi,, recitare, funzionare, agire come, avere effetto, essere effettivo, azione, decreto, atto, imitazione
idioms:
- a balancing act acrobazia
- a class act atto di categoria
- a hard act to follow impresa difficile da emulare
- act a part recitare un ruolo
- act as fare da
- act big fare sfoggio
- act of God intervento divino
- act of war azione di guerra
- act on agire su, influire su
- act out manifestare, esprimere
- act up to conformarsi a
- act upon mettere in pratica
- catch in the act cogliere con le mani nel sacco, cogliere sul fatto, cogliere in flagrante, pizzicare
- clean up your act correggiti
- criminal act reato
- get in on the act partecipare a
- get one's act together mattiti in sesto, preparati
- put on an act fare la commedia
- sexual act atto sessuale
- speech act dichiarazione orale, atto linguistico
Português (Portuguese)
v. - agir, funcionar, comportar-se, influenciar, atuar
n. - ato (m) (Jur.), ação (f), encenação (f), decreto (m) (Jur.)
idioms:
- a balancing act tentativa de lutar contra vários fatores de conflito ao mesmo tempo
- a class act um ato de classe (fig.)
- a hard act to follow uma lei difícil de seguir
- act a part agir como parte
- act as agir como
- act big agir de forma adequada
- act of God acaso fortuito
- act of war decreto de guerra
- act on influir em, agir sobre, dar decisão
- act out transformar em ação
- act up to atuar de forma diferente do normal, funcionar incorretamente
- act upon agir de acordo com, influir em
- catch in the act pegar no ato, pegar em flagrante
- clean up your act comportar-se de maneira aceitável
- criminal act ação criminal (Jur.)
- get in on the act tornar-se entusiasmado instantaneamente
- get one's act together colocar (a vida, pensamentos ou emoções) em ordem, começar a funcionar de maneira qualificada ou eficiente
- get your act together colocar (sua vida, pensamentos ou emoções) em ordem
- put on an act colocar em ordem
- read the riot act ordenar a dispersão de uma multidão, avisar ou ordenar a cessação de algo, protestar veementemente, reprimir com severidade
- sexual act ato sexual
- speech act ato discursivo
Русский (Russian)
действовать, поступать, играть роль, вести себя, закон (юрид.), акт (театр.), акт, документ (юрид.), поступок, деяние
idioms:
- a balancing act выступление канатоходца, балансировка между двумя явлениями
- a class act высококлассное исполнение
- a hard act to follow трудно последовать
- act a part играть роль
- act as выступать в роли кого-то
- act big действовать с размахом
- act of God событие, не зависящее от человека
- act of war действие, провоцирующее войну
- act on вести себя с соответствии с, влиять на
- act out разыграть (сцену)
- act up to вести себя в соответствии с чем-то
- act upon воздействовать
- act upon действовать по
- catch in the act поймать на чем-то
- clean up your act исправиться
- criminal act преступное действие
- get in on the act включиться в какую-то выгодную деятельность
- get one's act together организоваться, привести себя в порядок
- get your act together приведи себя в порядок
- put on an act разыгрывать кого-то, обманывать
- read the riot act грозно предупреждать о чем-либо
- sexual act половой акт
- speech act произнесение речи
Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - obrar, proceder, actuar, representar, desempeñar el papel de, interpretar
v. intr. - obrar, comportarse, conducirse, portarse
n. - actuación, declaración, ley, decreto, acto, acta, escritura, partida, acción, número
idioms:
- a hard act to follow una escena difícil de repetir, algo tan bueno que es difícil de igualar
- act a part hacer la comedia
- act as actuar como, figurar como
- act big alardear, presumir
- act of God caso de fuerza mayor
- act of war operación bélica, acción de guerra
- act on seguir (consejos), cumplir (órdenes), actuar sobre, afectar, influir en
- act out exteriorizar, representar
- act the fool hacer el tonto, hacer payasadas
- act up causar problemas
- act upon seguir (consejos), cumplir (órdenes), actuar sobre, influir en
- be in on the act participar en algo aparentemente beneficioso
- get in on the act participar en algo aparentemente beneficioso
- get one's act together organizarse
- in the act of disponerse a, en el momento de
- put on an act simular
abbr. - Test de Colegios Americanos, Asociación de Profesores de Clase, Territorio Capital de Australia
Svenska (Swedish)
v. - handla, tjänstgöra, göra verkan
n. - handling, gärning, akt
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
儿童电视行动组织, 美国大学测验
扮演, 举动像, 装作, 下判决, 行动, 假装, 见效, 起作用, 演戏, 表演, 行为, 幕, 节目, 法案, 法令
idioms:
- a hard act to follow 难以跟上
- act a part 扮演一个角色, 装腔作势
- act as 充当, 担任...角色
- act big 神气活现
- act of God 天灾, 不可抗力
- act of war 战争行为, 侵略行为
- act on 对...起作用, 按照...行事
- act out 将...付诸行动
- act the fool 装疯卖傻
- act up 调皮, 出毛病, 任性
- act upon 对...起作用, 按照...行事
- get in on the act 如法炮制
- get one's act together 组织起来, 劲往一处使
- put on an act 装腔
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
abbr. - 兒童電視行動組織, 美國大學測驗
v. tr. - 扮演, 舉動像, 裝作, 下判決
v. intr. - 行動, 假裝, 見效, 起作用, 演戲, 表演
n. - 行為, 幕, 行動, 節目, 法案, 法令
idioms:
- a hard act to follow 難以跟上
- act a part 扮演一個角色, 裝腔作勢
- act as 充當, 擔任...角色
- act big 神氣活現
- act of God 天災, 不可抗力
- act of war 戰爭行為, 侵略行為
- act on 對...起作用, 按照...行事
- act out 將...付諸行動
- act the fool 裝瘋賣傻
- act up 調皮, 出毛病, 任性
- act upon 對...起作用, 按照...行事
- get in on the act 如法砲製
- get one's act together 組織起來, 勁往一處使
- put on an act 裝腔
한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 행하다, 상연하다, ~인체하다
v. intr. - 행동하다, 근무하다, 처신하다, 작용하다, 무대에 서다, 결정하다
n. - 행위, 현행, 막, 한 프로, 결의서, 학위논문 제목
idioms:
- a hard act to follow 따라 하기 힘든 행동
- act a part ~한 역할을 맡아 하다, 연극을 부리다
- act as ~노릇을 하다
- act big 거시적 안목으로 행동하다
- act of God 신의 이름으로
- act of war 전쟁 행위
- act on ~에 작용하다, ~에 입각하여 행동하다
- act out 실연하다
- act the fool 광대노릇을 하다, 바보짓을 하다
- act up 건방지게 굴다, 희롱하다, 겉치레하다
- act upon ~에 작용하다, ~에 입각하여 행동하다
- get in on the act 계획에 한 몫 끼다
- get one's act together 삶을 체계화하여 원하는 것을 얻을 수 있도록 하다
- put on an act 연기를 해보이다, 거짓 행위를 하다
abbr. - American College Test(미국 대학 입학 학력 테스트)
日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 行い, 行為, 幕, 芝居, 出し物, 演技, 法令, 決議
v. - 行動する, ふるまう, 演じる, 出演する, 作動する, 効く, …のようにふるまう, 演じてみせる, 上演に向く
idioms:
- act a part 芝居を打つ
- act as 役を務める
- act big でかい面をする
- act of God 天災, 不可抗力
- act of war 戦争行為
- act on 従って行動する, 作用する, 効く
- act out 行動で表現する, 実演する
- act up to 従って行動する
- act upon 従って行動する
- get in on the act 参加する
- get one's act together 協調する
- get your act together ちぐはぐな事をしない
- juggling act 色々な事を一度にやる
- put on an act 見かけよくふるまう
العربيه (Arabic)
(فعل) يمثل, يتظاهر, يتصرف, يقوم بمهمه (الاسم) عمل, فعل, صنيع, قانون, قرار, فصل من مسرحيه, تظاهر
עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - הציג מחזה, תיאר (אירוע) באמצעות פעולות, מילא (בהצגה) תפקיד של
v. intr. - התנהג, ביצע פעולות, פעל ביעילות, פעל, הפעיל השפעה, העמיד פנים
n. - מעשה, פעולה, הופעה, מערכה במחזה, חוק, צו, אירוע, מוצג
abbr. - הטריטוריה של בירת אוסטרליה
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American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Roget's Thesaurus
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 byHoughton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Copyright © Chris Baldick 2001, 2004. All rights reserved.
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McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture & Construction
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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West's Encyclopedia of American Law
West's Encyclopedia of American Law. Copyright © 1998 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Collins Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary © Anne Bradford, 1986, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008
HarperCollins Publishers
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