[aj-i-teyt] 
verb, -tat⋅ed, -tat⋅ing.| 1. | to move or force into violent, irregular action: The hurricane winds agitated the sea. |
| 2. | to shake or move briskly: The machine agitated the mixture. |
| 3. | to move to and fro; impart regular motion to. |
| 4. | to disturb or excite emotionally; arouse; perturb: a crowd agitated to a frenzy by impassioned oratory; a man agitated by disquieting news. |
| 5. | to call attention to by speech or writing; discuss; debate: to agitate the question. |
| 6. | to consider on all sides; revolve in the mind; plan. |
| 7. | 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. |
[aj-i-tuh-buhl] , adjective | ag·i·tate (āj'ĭ-tāt') v. ag·i·tat·ed, ag·i·tat·ing, ag·i·tates v. tr.
To stir up public interest in a cause: agitate for a tax reduction. [Latin agitāre, agitāt-, frequentative of agere, to drive, do; see ag- in Indo-European roots.] ag'i·tat'ed·ly (-tā'tĭd-lē) adv., ag'i·ta'tive adj. Synonyms: These verbs mean to cause to move to and fro violently: land agitated by tremors; a storm churning the waves; buildings and streets convulsed by an explosion; a hurricane rocking trees and houses; an earthquake that shook the ground. |