Agitate
['ædʒɪteɪt] or ['ædʒə'tet]
Definition
(verb.) change the arrangement or position of.
(verb.) cause to be agitated, excited, or roused; 'The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks'.
(verb.) try to stir up public opinion.
Typist: Sam--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea; to agitate water in a vessel.
(v. t.) To move or actuate.
(v. t.) To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated.
(v. t.) To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy hotly agitated.
(v. t.) To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to contrive busily; to devise; to plot; as, politicians agitate desperate designs.
Edited by Emily
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. [1]. Shake, jar, toss, rock, trouble (by brisk motion), convulse.[2]. Excite, ruffle, rouse, ferment, stir up, work up.[3]. Fluster, flurry, hurry, confuse, disconcert.[4]. Discuss, controvert, canvass, debate, dispute, ventilate.
Edited by Horace
Definition
v.t. to keep moving: to stir violently: to disturb: to discuss or keep up the discussion of a question.—n. Agitā′tion commotion: perturbation of mind: discussion: public excitement.—adj. Ag′itative.—n. Ag′itator one who excites or keeps up a public agitation.
Edited by Francine
Examples
- Innocent as I had been of any intention to terrify and agitate her, my heart smote me as I looked at the poor, pale, frightened face. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- With new interests and new emotions to agitate him, the attempt would be simply useless. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Don't agitate your feelings by going to look for him, said Lord Steyne sardonically. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Do not agitate yourself, I entreat you, dearest madam,' said Mr. Tupman soothingly. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- To agitate him thus deeply, by a resistance he so abhorred, was cruel: to yield was out of the question. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- Why will you agitate yourself for nothing? Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- She had looked it over, and had seen nothing in it to agitate any one. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Another pause ensued; Marianne was greatly agitated, and it ended thus. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
- Real life is beyond his control and influence because real life is largely agitated by impulses and habits, unconscious needs, faith, hope and desire. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Her manner was angry and agitated. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Yes, ma'am,' said Bob, all impatience; for the old lady, although much agitated, spoke with the most tantalising deliberation, as old ladies often do. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- The poor woman was at first too much confused and agitated to understand thoroughly what I said to her. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- If I didn't support a aged pairint, and a lovely sister,'--here the waiter was greatly agitated--'I wouldn't take a farthing. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Her ladyship started up, with every appearance of being additionally agitated and alarmed by what I had told her. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- I felt a burning glow mount to my face; for bitter and agitating recollections were awakened by the allusion to marriage. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- We will make no more agitating allusions; we will resume our gossip. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- A fortnight, at least, of leisure and peace of mind, to crown every warmer, but more agitating, delight, should be hers. Jane Austen. Emma.
- The rain pours; Gardes-du-Corps go caracoling through the groups 'amid hisses'; irritating and agitating what is but dispersed here to reunite there. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- It was an agitating moment. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Elizabeth observed my agitation for some time in timid and fearful silence; at length she said, What is it that agitates you, my dear Victor? Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
Edited by Jason