agitate
[ aj-i-teyt ]
/ ˈædʒ ɪˌteɪt /
verb (used with object), ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing.
verb (used without object), ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing.
to arouse or attempt to arouse public interest and support, as in some political or social cause or theory: to agitate for the repeal of a tax.
Origin of agitate
1580–90; < Latin
agitātus (past participle of
agitāre to set in motion), equivalent to
ag- (root of
agere to drive) +
-it- frequentative suffix +
-ātus
-ate1
SYNONYMS FOR agitate
OTHER WORDS FROM agitate
Words nearby agitate
agistment,
agit.,
agit. ante us.,
agit. bene,
agita,
agitate,
agitated,
agitated depression,
agitation,
agitato,
agitator
British Dictionary definitions for agitative
agitate
/ (ˈædʒɪˌteɪt) /
verb
(tr)
to excite, disturb, or trouble (a person, the mind, or feelings); worry
(tr)
to cause to move vigorously; shake, stir, or disturb
(intr; often foll by for or against)
to attempt to stir up public opinion for or against something
(tr)
to discuss or debate in order to draw attention to or gain support for (a cause, etc)
to agitate a political cause
Derived forms of agitate
agitated, adjective agitatedly, adverbWord Origin for agitate
C16: from Latin
agitātus, from
agitāre to move to and fro, set into motion, from
agere to act, do