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agent
12 dictionary results for: agent
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
a·gent       [ey-juhnt] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.a person or business authorized to act on another's behalf: Our agent in Hong Kong will ship the merchandise. A best-selling author needs a good agent.
2.a person or thing that acts or has the power to act.
3.a natural force or object producing or used for obtaining specific results: Many insects are agents of fertilization.
4.an active cause; an efficient cause.
5.a person who works for or manages an agency.
6.a person who acts in an official capacity for a government or private agency, as a guard, detective, or spy: an FBI agent; the secret agents of a foreign power.
7.a person responsible for a particular action: Who was the agent of this deed?
8.Grammar. a form or construction, usually a noun or noun phrase, denoting an animate being that performs or causes the action expressed by the verb, as the police in The car was found by the police.
9.Indian agent.
10.a representative of a business firm, esp. a traveling salesperson; canvasser; solicitor.
11.Chemistry. a substance that causes a reaction.
12.Pharmacology. a drug or chemical capable of eliciting a biological response.
13.Pathology. any microorganism capable of causing disease.
14.British. a campaign manager; an election agent.
–adjective
15.acting; exerting power (opposed to patient).
–verb (used with object)
16.to represent (a person or thing) as an agent; act as an agent for: to agent a manuscript; Who agented that deal?

[Origin: 1570–80; < L agent- (s. of agéns (prp.) doing), equiv. to ag- (root of agere to do) + -ent- -ent]

1. representative, deputy. 3. means.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
a·gent       (ā'jənt)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. One that acts or has the power or authority to act.
  2. One empowered to act for or represent another: an author's agent; an insurance agent.
  3. A means by which something is done or caused; instrument.
  4. A force or substance that causes a change: a chemical agent; an infectious agent.
  5. A representative or official of a government or administrative department of a government: an FBI agent.
  6. A spy.
  7. Linguistics The noun or noun phrase that specifies the person through whom or the means by which an action is effected.

v.   a·gent·ed, a·gent·ing, a·gents

v.   tr.
To act as an agent or representative for: Who will agent your next book?

v.   intr.
To act as an agent or representative.


[Middle English, from Latin agēns, agent-, present participle of agere, to do; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
agent 
1471, "one who acts," from L. agentem (nom. agens, gen. agentis), prp. of agere "to set in motion, drive, lead, conduct" (see act). Meaning "any natural force or substance which produces a phenomenon" is first recorded 1579.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
agent

noun
1. an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; "their research uncovered new disease agents" 
2. a representative who acts on behalf of other persons or organizations 
3. a substance that exerts some force or effect 
4. a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission 
5. any agent or representative of a federal agency or bureau 
6. the semantic role of the animate entity that instigates or causes the happening denoted by the verb in the clause [syn: agentive role

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
agent       (ā'jənt)  Pronunciation Key 
A substance that can bring about a chemical reaction or a biological effect. Compare reagent.

American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

agent a·gent (ā'jənt)
n.
A force or substance, such as a chemical, that causes a change.

Investopedia - Cite This Source - Share This

Agent

1. An individual or firm that places securities transactions for clients.

2. A person licensed by a state to sell insurance.

3. A securities salesperson who represents a broker-dealer or issuer when selling or trying to sell securities to the investing public.

Investopedia Commentary

Essentially, this is the person who makes a transaction on behalf of their employer or client.

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See also: Analyst, Broker, Broker-dealer, Principal

Wallstreet Words - Cite This Source - Share This

agent

An individual or organization that acts on behalf of and is subject to the control of another party. For example, in executing an order to buy or sell a security, a broker is acting as a customer's agent.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: agent
Function: noun
1 : someone or something that acts or exerts power : a moving force in achieving some result
2 : a person guided or instigated by another in some action agents of the executive, merely to execute the will of the president —Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803)> —see also INNOCENT AGENT
3 a : a person or entity (as an employee or independent contractor) authorized to act on behalf of and under the control of another in dealing with third parties —see also AGENCY 2, FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP, SUBAGENT —compare FIDUCIARY, PRINCIPAL, SERVANT
apparent agent
: an agent acting under an agency by estoppel
bar·gain·ing agent
: a labor union that represents the employees in a bargaining unit in negotiating with their employer through collective bargaining
business agent
: an agent that handles business affairs for another person or organization; especially : a paid official of a union who carries on union business between the employees and the employer
collective bargaining agent
: BARGAINING AGENT in this entry
del cre·de·re agent
: an agent that guarantees to his or her principal that third parties involved in the transaction will pay or perform
exclusive agent
: an agent acting under an exclusive agency
general agent
: an agent acting under a general agency
legislative agent
: an agent (as for an interest group) that lobbies a legislature esp. professionally
managing agent
: an agent or employee of a corporation or other business entity who has a position that involves the use of judgment and discretion and who is considered under the law as capable of accepting service of process and answering questions under cross-examination on behalf of the business entity
ostensible agent
: an agent acting under an agency by estoppel
special agent
: an agent authorized to do one or more specific acts under particular instructions or within restrictions implied by the nature of the authorized acts : an agent acting under a special agency —compare GENERAL AGENT in this entry
transfer agent
: an officer, bank, or trust company that acts on behalf of a publicly held corporation in handling the transfer of stock and other securities and keeping records of the owners
universal agent
: an agent acting under a general agency b : a representative of a corporation designated to accept service of process on behalf of the corporation usually as required by statute c : a person or organization that finds buyers or tenants for real estate owners usually for a commission d : an independent sales or service representative of an insurance company —compare BROKER
4 a : a representative, emissary, or official of a government agent> b : an employee of a government agency usually that is involved in law enforcement agents>

Free On-line Dictionary of Computing - Cite This Source - Share This

agent networking
In the client-server model, the part of the system that performs information preparation and exchange on behalf of a client or server. Especially in the phrase "intelligent agent" it implies some kind of automatic process which can communicate with other agents to perform some collective task on behalf of one or more humans.
(1995-04-09)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Agent

A"gent\, a. [L. agens, agentis, p. pr. of agere to act; akin to Gr. ? to lead, Icel. aka to drive, Skr. aj. [root]2.] Acting; -- opposed to patient, or sustaining, action. [Archaic] "The body agent." --Bacon.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Agent

A"gent\, n. 1. One who exerts power, or has the power to act; an actor.

Heaven made us agents, free to good or ill. --Dryden.

2. One who acts for, or in the place of, another, by authority from him; one intrusted with the business of another; a substitute; a deputy; a factor.

3. An active power or cause; that which has the power to produce an effect; as, a physical, chemical, or medicinal agent; as, heat is a powerful agent.

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