WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ag"i*tate
Part of Speech : v. t. [imp. & p. p. Agitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Agitating.]
Etymology : [L. agitatus, p. p. of agitare to put in motion, fr. agere to move: cf. F. agiter. See Act, Agent.]
Definition : 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.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913