Hypertext Webster Gateway: "agitate"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Agitate \Ag"i*tate\, v. 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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
agitate
v 1: try to stir up public opinion [syn: {foment}, {stir up}]
2: cause to be agitated, excited, or roused; "The speaker
charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks" [syn:
{rouse}, {turn on}, {charge}, {commove}, {excite}, {charge
up}] [ant: {calm}]
3: exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to
gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or
person; be an advocate for; "The liberal party pushed for
reforms"; "She is crusading for women's rights"; "The Dean
is pushing for his favorite candidate" [syn: {crusade}, {fight},
{press}, {campaign}, {push}]
4: move very slightly; "He shifted in his seat" [syn: {stir}, {shift},
{budge}]
5: move or cause to move quickly back and forth; "The chemist
shook the flask vigorously"; "My hands were shaking" [syn:
{shake}]
6: change the arrangement or position of [syn: {disturb}, {commove},
{shake up}, {stir up}, {raise up}]
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