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Enact vs Exact - What's the difference?

enact | exact |

In transitive terms the difference between enact and exact

is that enact is to do; to effect while exact is to forcibly obtain or produce.

As verbs the difference between enact and exact

is that enact is to make (a bill) into law while exact is to demand and enforce the payment or performance of.

As a noun enact

is purpose; determination.

As an adjective exact is

precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect.

enact

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (legal) to make (a bill) into law
  • to act the part of; to play
  • * Shakespeare
    • I did enact Julius Caesar.
  • to do; to effect
  • * Shakespeare
    • The king enacts more wonders than a man.

    Derived terms

    * enactability * enactable * enactably * enaction * enactor

    Related terms

    * act

    Noun

  • (obsolete) purpose; determination
    • (Webster 1913)

    exact

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect.
  • Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • I see thou art exact of taste.
  • * 1661 , , The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond
    • During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant
  • Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • An exact command, / Larded with many several sorts of reason.
  • (algebra, of a sequence of groups connected by homomorphisms) Such that the kernel of one homomorphism is the image of the preceding one.

    • Synonyms

    * (precisely agreeing) perfect, true, correct, precise * (precisely or definitely conceived or stated) strict * spot on

    Antonyms

    * (precisely agreeing) inexact, imprecise, approximate * (precisely or definitely conceived or stated) loose

    Derived terms

    * exactly * exactness * exact sequence

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To demand and enforce the payment or performance of.
    • to exact tribute, fees, or obedience
  • * Bible, Luke iii. 13
    • He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
  • To make desirable or necessary.
  • * Massinger
    • My designs exact me in another place.
  • To forcibly obtain or produce.
    • to exact revenge

    Derived terms

    * exactable * exacter * exacting * exactor

    External links

    * * * 1000 English basic words ----