agitate
English
Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
Etymology
From Latin agitatus, past participle of agitare (“to put in motion”), from agere (“to move”). Compare with French agiter. See act, agent.
Pronunciation
Verb
agitate (third-person singular simple present agitates, present participle agitating, simple past and past participle agitated)
- To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea; to agitate water in a vessel.
- ``Winds . . . agitate the air. --Cowper.
- (rare) To move or actuate. --Thomson.
- To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated.
- The mind of man is agitated by various passions. --Johnson.
- To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy hotly agitated. --Boyle.
- To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to contrive busily; to devise; to plot; as, politicians agitate desperate designs.
Synonyms
Related terms
Translations
to move with a violent, irregular action
to move or actuate
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to stir up, to disturb or excite
to discuss with great earnestness; to debate
to revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects
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Translations to be checked
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External links
- agitate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- agitate in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- agitate at OneLook Dictionary Search