agitate

views updated Jun 08 2018

ag·i·tate / ˈajiˌtāt/ • v. [tr.] make (someone) troubled or nervous. ∎  [intr.] campaign to arouse public concern about an issue in the hope of prompting action: they agitated for a reversal of the decision. ∎  stir or disturb (something, esp. a liquid) briskly.DERIVATIVES: ag·i·tat·ed·ly adv.

agitate

views updated May 23 2018

agitate XVI. f. pp. stem of L. agitāre move to and fro, frequent. of agere do (see AGENT, -ATE3); cf. (O)F. agiter.
So agitation XVI. — F. or L. agitator XVII.