enactive

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɛnˈæktɪv/ UK /ɪnˈæktɪv/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
in cognitive science, relating to the view that cognition arises through an embodied organism's active engagement with its environment

An enactive account of perception treats seeing as a skilled activity rather than the passive reception of an internal picture.
2

adj
having the power or effect of enacting, establishing, or bringing something into operation

The ordinance contains an enactive clause that establishes the new authority.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · in cognitive science,... embodiedaction-basedsensorimotor

2 adj · having the power or effect... enacting constitutive operative

Opposites

passiverepresentationaldeclaratory

Word family

Derived forms enactivelyenactivismenactivist

Related forms enact embodiment cognition sensorimotor

Etymology

Formed from enact + -ive. Enact combines en- ("to cause to be in") with act, from Latin actus ("a doing"). The modern cognitive-science sense was developed in enactivism, which understands mind and perception as brought forth through embodied action in an environment.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# enactive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɛnˈæktɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈæktɪv/

## Meanings
1. in cognitive science, relating to the view that cognition arises through an embodied organism's active engagement with its environment
2. having the power or effect of enacting, establishing, or bringing something into operation

## Examples
- An enactive account of perception treats seeing as a skilled activity rather than the passive reception of an internal picture.
- The ordinance contains an enactive clause that establishes the new authority.

## Synonyms
- embodied
- action-based
- enacting
- constitutive
- operative

## Antonyms
- passive
- representational
- declaratory

## Derived Forms
- enactively
- enactivism
- enactivist

## Related Forms
- enact
- embodiment
- cognition
- sensorimotor

## Etymology
Formed from enact + -ive. Enact combines en- ("to cause to be in") with act, from Latin actus ("a doing"). The modern cognitive-science sense was developed in enactivism, which understands mind and perception as brought forth through embodied action in an environment.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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