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Webster 1913 Edition

Agitate

Ag′i-tate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Agitated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Agitating
.]
[L.
agitatus
, p. p. of
agitare
to put in motion, fr.
agere
to move: cf. F.
agiter
. See
Act
,
Agent
.]
1.
To move with a violent, irregular action;
as, the wind
agitates
the sea; to
agitate
water in a vessel.
“Winds . . . agitate the air.”
Cowper.
2.
To move or actuate.
[R.]
Thomson.
3.
To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb;
as, he was greatly
agitated
.
The mind of man is
agitated
by various passions.
Johnson.
4.
To discuss with great earnestness; to debate;
as, a controversy hotly
agitated
.
Boyle.
5.
To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to contrive busily; to devise; to plot;
as, politicians
agitate
desperate designs
.
Syn. – To move; shake; excite; rouse; disturb; distract; revolve; discuss; debate; canvass.

Webster 1828 Edition

Agitate

AG'ITATE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. agito, from ago. See Act.]
1.
To stir violently; to move back and forth with a quick motion; to shake or move briskly; as, to agitate water in a vessel.
2.
To move or force into violent irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea.
3.
To disturb, or excite into tumult; as, to agitate the mind or passions.
4.
To discuss; to debate; to controvert; as, to agitate a question.
5.
To consider on all sides; to revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to contrive by mental deliberation; as, politicians agitate desperate designs.
6.
To move or actuate. [Not used.]

Definition 2024

agitate

agitate

English

Verb

agitate ‎(third-person singular simple present agitates, present participle agitating, simple past and past participle agitated)

  1. To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea; to agitate water in a vessel.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Cowper
      Winds . . . agitate the air.
  2. (rare) To move or actuate.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Thomson to this entry?)
  3. To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Johnson
    The mind of man is agitated by various passions.
  4. To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy hotly agitated.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Boyle to this entry?)
  5. 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

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

Ido

Verb

agitate

  1. adverbial present passive participle of agitar

Italian

Adjective

agitate f

  1. feminine plural of agitato

Anagrams

Latin

Verb

agitāte

  1. first-person plural present active imperative of agitō

Etymology

From Middle English, from Latin agitatus, past participle of agitare ‎(“to put in motion”), from agere ‎(“to move”). Compare with French agiter. See act, agent.

Pronunciation

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