| actual | 1. Involving or comprising action; active. "Her walking and other actual performances." (Shak) "Let your holy and pious intention be actual; that is . . . By a special prayer or action, . . . Given to God." (Jer. Taylor) 2. Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real; opposed to potential, possible, virtual, speculative, coceivable, theoretical, or nominal; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual case under discussion. 3. In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual situation of the country. Actual cautery. See Cautery. Actual sin, that kind of sin which is done by ourselves in contradistinction to "original sin." Synonym: Real, genuine, positive, certain. See Real. Origin: OE. Actuel, F. Actuel, L. Actualis, fr. Agere to do, act. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| actual cautery | A cautery, such as electrocautery, acting directly through heat and not by chemical means. Synonym: technocausis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| actuarial analysis | The application of probability and statistical methods to calculate the risk of occurrence of any event, such as onset of illness, recurrent disease, hospitalization, disability, or death. It may include calculation of the anticipated money costs of such events and of the premiums necessary to provide for payment of such costs. (12 Dec 1998) |