agitationn.
/ˌadʒᵻˈteɪʃn/, U.S. /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/ 1. † c. Physical motion, action; activity. Obsolete.
a. The state or condition of being moved backwards and forwards repeatedly; commotion, disturbance, perturbation; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > commotion, disturbance, or disorder > [noun]
winOE
torpelness?c1225
disturbance1297
workc1325
disturblingc1330
farec1330
frapec1330
disturbing1340
troublingc1340
blunderc1375
unresta1382
hurling1387
perturbationc1400
turbationc1400
rumblec1405
roara1413
rumourc1425
sturblance1435
troublec1435
stroublance1439
hurlc1440
hurly-burlyc1440
ruffling1440
stourc1440
rumblingc1450
sturbancec1450
unquietness?c1450
conturbationc1470
ruption1483
stir1487
wanrufe?a1505
rangat?a1513
business1514
turmoil1526
blommera1529
blunderinga1529
disturbation1529
bruyllie1535
garboil1543
bruslery1546
agitation1547
frayment1549
turmoiling1550
whirl1552
confusion1555
troublesomeness1561
rule1567
rummage1575
rabble1579
tumult1580
hurlement1585
rabblement1590
disturb1595
welter1596
coil1599
hurly1600
hurry1600
commotion1616
remotion1622
obturbation1623
stirrance1623
tumultuation1631
commoving1647
roiling1647
spudder1650
suffle1650
dissettlement1654
perturbancy1654
fermentationa1661
dissettledness1664
ferment1672
roil1690
hurry-scurry1753
vortex1761
rumpus1768
widdle1789
gilravagea1796
potheration1797
moil1824
festerment1833
burly1835
fidge1886
static1923
comess1944
frammis1946
bassa-bassa1956
1547 C. Langton Very Brefe Treat. Phisick iv. ii. sig. L.iiiv Sum other water [in urine], whiche after it is made is thicke, and remayneth so stil..signifieth great trouble and agitation, as yet to remayne in the bloode.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) xiii. 87 The cause of this agitatione and commotione of his army vp and doun.
1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus 102 By the oft mouing agitacton [sic] and going vp and downe, it [sc. wine] passeth and is turned from corruptible into almost vncorruptible.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. I1v The true Character of diuine presence coming in..without noise or agitation . View more context for this quotation
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 21 A tremulous Motion and Agitation of rowling fumes.
1708 tr. J. P. de Tournefort Materia Medica iv. 194 Sharp, hot, or acrimonious Medicines..act upon the Glands after the following manner, viz. by raising a sudden..Agitation or Commotion in the lower or under Jaw.
1786 Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. 2 338 The agitation caused by [vapour] descending will accelerate condensation.
1819 H. R. Schoolcraft View Lead Mines of Missouri 26 The lands lie rolling, like a body of water in gentle agitation.
1880 W. Cyples Inq. Proc. Human Exper. i. 5 A nervo-cerebral system, with specific agitations set up..in it.
1910 J. London Lost Face 83 Each time he had pulled a twig he had communicated a slight agitation to the tree—an imperceptible agitation.., but an agitation sufficient to bring about the disaster.
1993 Irish Times (Nexis) 29 Sept. 12 A great noise of whirring wings is heard..all is agitation and commotion, and then the plague lifts for a while, leaving nothing but bare stalks.
b. The action of moving (something) backwards and forwards repeatedly; stirring by brisk repetitive action; shaking.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > [noun]
winOE
disturbance1297
perturbingc1395
motiona1398
stirrage1513
turmoil1526
disquietness1535
buskling1546
jumbling1562
agitation1569
working1575
tumult1580
commotion1592
emotion1594
turbulence1598
bransle1603
pother1603
tumultuousnessa1617
unevennessa1637
unquietudea1639
disquietal1642
tumbling1660
disquietude1709
rouse1764
maelstrom1834
peacelessness1852
stir-up1900
1569 E. Fenton tr. P. Boaistuau Certaine Secrete Wonders Nature xxvi. f. 95 The ayre is troubled with contrary winds, by whose agitations [Fr. agitation] is engendred a bruite or murmure.
1594 H. Plat Jewell House 47 Or use anie other devise by agitation or shaking, untill you have broken the yolke.
1619 A. Gorges tr. F. Bacon Wisedome Ancients xxix. 159 To mixe ayre with water, which can be done by no meanes, but by a speedy and rapid agitation.
1658 R. Baxter Of Saving Faith xii. 88 Even Agitation with pressure sometime sets the Turners wood on fire.
1700 J. Jones Myst. Opium Reveal'd xxxii. 328 These Distempers..are from a segregation of Humours by Agitation, &c. and Opiates excellent Composers thereof.
1750 S. Johnson Rambler No. 133. ⁋2 Enabled me to bear the agitation of a coach.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1149 In the bottom of the pan there is a step,..to which arms or paddles are attached, for producing constant agitation.
1860 M. F. Maury Physical Geogr. Sea (ed. 8) x. §484 Brought to the surface by the agitation of the sea.
1929 H. A. A. Nicholls & J. H. Holland Text-bk. Trop. Agric. (ed. 2) ii. xiii. 390 As the agitation or beating goes on the green liquor becomes of a deeper colour and then gradually turns to a blue shade.
1997 BBC Vegetarian Good Food Apr. 29/1 Commercially produced hot cross buns now tend to be made the fastest and cheapest way, using..super-fast agitation to make the buns rise as quickly as possible.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > [noun]
stirringc888
pacec1300
wawingc1305
bestirring1340
movinga1382
movementa1393
startlinga1398
flittinga1400
motionc1425
shiftingc1440
agitation1573
motiveness1611
go1635
moment1641
remover1653
move1818
the world > action or operation > doing > [noun]
workingOE
deedc1000
makinglOE
gestsa1340
doing1372
makea1400
workmanshipc1400
faction1447
action1483
performancec1487
performation1504
performent1527
fact1548
practice1553
agitation1573
practisy1573
function1578
affair1598
acture1609
perpetrationa1631
employing1707
1573 T. Cooper Thesaurus (new ed.) Agitatio, moouing, stirring, agitation, exercise.
1576 T. Newton tr. L. Lemnie Touchstone of Complexions 167 Likewise doth the body of man become putrified..if it accustome not it selfe to exercise and agitation.
1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie iii. xx. 157 Albeit they..haue their feeding vpon the earth, yet is their agitation aboue in the Aire.
1705 F. Fuller Medicina Gymnastica 4 By Exercise then, I understand all..Motion or Agitation of the Body.
2.
a. Disturbance or perturbation of the mind or feelings, esp. when manifested in physical movements; anxiety or nervous excitement; (also) an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being upset or perturbed > [noun]
stirringc888
maleasea1300
uneasea1300
diseasec1330
perturbationa1382
unrestfulnessc1384
disturbancea1387
unroc1390
distroublancea1400
perturbancec1425
unquietnessc1460
inquietation1461
conturbationc1470
unheart's-ease1470
distroubling1487
wanease15..
inquietness?1504
unrufe1508
sturt1513
pertroublancea1522
inquieting1527
unquieting1548
turmoiling1550
unquiet1551
agitation?1555
storm1569
wanrest1570
discountenance1577
float1579
disquiet1581
brangling1584
diseasefulnessa1586
restlessness1597
hurry1600
disturbancy1603
disquietment1606
disordera1616
laruma1616
uneasinessa1616
diseasementa1617
discomposture1622
discomposition1624
whirr1628
discomposednessa1631
discomposure1632
pother1638
incomposedness1653
inquietude1658
uneasefulness1661
toss1666
disquietednessa1680
intranquillitya1699
disquietude1709
bosom-broil1742
discomfort1779
rufflement1806
feeze1825
uncomfortableness1828
discomforture1832
astasia1839
dysphoria1842
purr1842
peacelessness1852
palaver1899
perturbment1901
heebie-jeebies1923
wahala1966
agita1979
?1555 T. Paynell tr. J. L. Vives Office of Husband sig. D.iiijv The yonge man shuld leaue the care of this election [of a wife] to his parentes, ye whiche haue better iudgement & are more free from the agitations and motions of al affections [L. animorum tempestatibus carent], then they are.
1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xl. f.111 Mahomet..declared by outwarde signes, the agitacions and vnquietnesse of his minde.
1612 J. Cotta Short Discouerie Dangers Ignorant Practisers Physicke i. ii. 15 A woman vexed..by an inward presention mouing from a sodaine troubled agitation of her minde, would..foretell when her pulse should stand and intermit.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) v. i. 12 In this slumbry agitation, besides her walking, and other actuall performances, what (at any time) haue you heard her say? View more context for this quotation
1677 W. Temple Let. to Countess of Essex 18 June in Miscellanea (1680) 178 Passions..ought to be our Servants, and not our Masters; to give us some agitation for entertainment, or exercise, but never to throw our reason out of its seat.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 221 I have seen them in strange Agitations and Surprises on this Account.
1779 S. Johnson Let. 23 June (1992) III. 175 Think on such things as may please without too much agitation.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. vii. 155 ‘We thought’, replied Sir Arthur in great agitation, ‘we thought we could get round Halket-head.’
1834 H. Martineau Demerara (new ed.) iv. 52 A long, deep sob broke from him, and the child, terrified at his agitation, ran away.
1874 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. X. xxvi. 533 He spoke discursively of his shattered health, his agitation of mind.
1918 B. Tarkington Magnificent Ambersons xiii. 198 Fanny was the one who showed agitation during this interview, for she grew fiery red, and her eyes dilated.
1947 C. MacKenzie Whisky Galore xvi. 224 ‘What will we do then?’ Kate Anne asked in much agitation.
1996 L. Erdrich Tales of Burning Love 54 Jack stood shifting his feet, trying to control his agitation.
b. Social unrest. In later use chiefly with overtones of sense 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > public excitement > [noun]
motiona1387
humour1579
mania1689
scene1764
sensation1765
agitation1769
society > society and the community > dissent > lack of peacefulness > [noun]
unfritheOE
unpeacea1325
unresta1382
hurling1387
tumult1412
hurlc1440
hurly-burlyc1440
unquietness?c1450
unpeaceableness?c1475
estoure1481
broilery1521
broiling1523
turmoil1526
brulyie1531
unquiet1551
troublesomeness1561
disrest1567
turbulence1598
hurly1600
turbulency1607
inquieta1684
brulyiement1718
agitation1769
dispeace1825
fudder1871
push and shove1895
1769 W. Anderson Hist. France I. i. ii. 249 The public agitation occasioned by this rigid exercise of the supreme authority, first showed itself by a number of satirical pieces.
1775 E. Burke Speech Resol. for Concil. Colonies 3 Under them the state of America has been kept in continual agitation.
1821 Times 3 May 3/2 We are not aware that..in Spain or Portugal..it has yet been tolerated or forgiven by the ‘repressors’ of public agitation.
1999 B. R. Schneider in M. Woo-Cumings Developmental State ix. 290 These polities were not hermetic and static; several defects kept them in constant agitation (if not evolution).
3.
a. The consideration, debate, or discussion of a matter, esp. a plan; the urging or promotion of a proposal; planning, scheming. Also: a scheme, a device. Frequently in in agitation. Now rare.In later use merging with sense 3b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > [noun]
mootingOE
disputinga1225
mootc1225
sputingc1250
disputisounc1290
arguingc1385
sputisounc1390
debate1393
determinationc1400
luyte1477
disputation1489
dispicion?1510
argumenta1513
plead?a1513
traversing1524
dispicience1531
ruffle1532
debatement1536
argumentationa1538
debating1548
pro et contraa1554
canvassing1565
litigation1567
toil1597
discussion1598
tongue-work1598
agitation1600
canvass1611
fence1637
contestation1638
dispute1638
tongue-fence1643
actitation1661
the mind > will > intention > planning > [noun]
compassinga1300
compassmentc1300
ordainingc1350
ordinancec1385
imaginationa1393
conjectmentc1400
before-castinga1425
forecastinga1425
imagininga1449
conjectinga1450
machinationc1550
platforming1560
plotting1593
contrivement1599
agitation1600
contrival1602
contrivage1610
projection1611
projectment1611
contrivance1647
politics1650
digestion1680
planning1730
contriving1751
scheme1790
scheming1813
schemery1822
replanning1853
mapping1856
macroplanning1966
the mind > mental capacity > thought > continued thinking, reflection, contemplation > thinking about, consideration, deliberation > [noun]
i-mindOE
studyinglOE
mindc1300
bethinking1340
poring1340
regard1348
weighingc1380
contemplationc1390
advisementa1393
deliberationa1393
advicec1405
reckoninga1413
visement?1414
considerancec1420
advisenessc1425
revolutionc1425
rewardc1432
mind-takingc1449
umbethinkingc1450
advisednessc1475
considering1483
beholding1530
meditationa1535
pondering1535
cogitation?1542
expending1545
ponderation1556
perpending1558
well weighing1566
surview1576
reflex1593
revolve1595
lucubration1596
agitation1600
perpension1612
vizamenta1616
pensitation1623
perpensation1623
perpendment1667
ruminating1668
commentationa1670
revolving1670
reflectiona1674
introspectiona1676
propendencya1676
ponderment1728
chawing1845
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [noun] > a wile or cunning device
wrenchc888
craftOE
turnc1225
ginc1275
play?a1300
enginec1300
wrenkc1325
forsetc1330
sleightc1340
knackc1369
cautel138.
subtletya1393
wilea1400
tramc1400
wrinkle1402
artc1405
policy?1406
subtilityc1410
subtiltyc1440
jeopardy1487
jouk1513
pawka1522
frask1524
false point?1528
conveyance1534
compass1540
fineness1546
far-fetch?a1562
stratagem1561
finesse1562
entrapping1564
convoyance1578
lift1592
imagine1594
agitation1600
subtleship1614
artifice1620
navation1628
wimple1638
rig1640
lapwing stratagem1676
feint1679
undercraft1691
fly-flap1726
management1736
fakement1811
old tricka1822
fake1829
trickeration1940
swiftie1945
shrewdie1961
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. v. 4 [Clown] So now I speake my agitation of the matter. View more context for this quotation
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 224 The Hunter must..in hunting of a Foxe..driue him againe the winde, and then he preuenteth all his crafty and subtill agitations and diuises.
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) xx. 115 Things will have their first, or second Agitation; If they be not tossed upon the Arguments of Counsell, they will be tossed upon the Waves of Fortune.
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ iv. xxvi. 35 You heard how I was in agitation for an employment in Italy.
1710 Sir R. Sutton Despatches 1 June in A. N. Kurat Despatches Sir R. Sutton (1953) 16 If there is any thing of this nature in agitation, Your Lordship will be acquainted of it sooner from other parts.
1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. xxiii. 174 The latest moments of your life were dedicated to the same..busy agitations.
?1793 Argal I. vii. 102 The count..had been presented with one [key], from the first agitation of the scheme.
1813 R. Wilson Let. 4 Nov. in Diary (1861) II. App. 483 We have a giant plan in agitation if the enemy will not yield to our terms.
1819 C. Bagot Let. in B. Willson Friendly Relations (1934) vii. 107 Know, then, that a public ball was given to Mrs. Bagot and myself... I knew nothing of such a scheme being in agitation.
1865 F. Parkman Huguenots i, in Pioneers of France in New World 9 While this design was in agitation.
1882 H. C. Lodge Alexander Hamilton viii. 161 It is probable that he saw an opportunity to make party capital by the agitation of this subject in debate.
1922 Official Rec. (U.S. Naval War Rec. Office) 611 The premature agitation of the matter as a party question.
b. The arousing of public concern about a political or other issue, by appeals, discussion, propaganda, etc., in order to bring about action. Cf. agitate v. 4b. In the 20th cent. frequently used spec. of action on behalf of Communism: cf. agitprop n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > [noun] > for specific cause
agitation1829
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > [noun] > publicity
word of mouth1578
publicity1609
agitation1829
limelight1877
play1912
pre-publicity1959
society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > [noun] > rousing of public attention or excitement
agitation1829
flag-wagging1887
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > [noun] > publicity > specific communism
agitation1946
society > authority > rule or government > politics > party politics > [noun] > rousing of public attention or excitement > specific on behalf of communism
agitation1946
1829 Ann. Reg. 1828 i. Hist. Europe 122/2 Its [sc. Catholic Association's] orators publicly proclaimed that ‘Agitation’, as they termed it, was the object which they had in view, and that agitation they would have so long as they found it necessary.
1836 T. Arnold Let. in A. P. Stanley Life of Dr. Arnold (1844) II. viii. 61 A most unprincipled system of agitation,—the Tories actually doing their best to Jacobinize the poor, in the hope of turning an outbreak against the Whig government to their own advantage.
1863 W. Phillips Speeches iii. 53 The antislavery agitation.
1890 Daily News 9 Sept. 6/2 A lively agitation..against the continued policing of the borough by the county constabulary.
1923 E. L. Rice Adding Machine iii. 46 Too damn much agitation, that's at the bottom of it... Foreign agitators, that's what it is.
1946 L. H. Gould Marxist Gloss. 11 Agitation, the act of rousing the masses to political action around some particular social injustice.
1952 Jrnl. Politics 14 580 Political propaganda and agitation is not an end in itself, but means of increasing the military preparedness of the Red Army, of strengthening the Soviet military discipline and the high political-moral level of the personnel.
1998 World in 1998 (Economist Publ.) 64/1 There will continue to be agitation on both the right and left for making China America's new strategic adversary.
c. In South Asia: a public demonstration; a strike.
ΚΠ
1913 Times 7 July 7 Preparations are being made for an extensive agitation in Bengal in consequence of the Government of India's refusal to sanction the appointment of three professors in Calcutta University.
1964 Times of India 26 Sept. 1/5 The ‘Bharat Bandh’ agitation sponsored by the SSP, Communists and other Opposition groups met with varying degrees of success..on Friday.
1992 Sunday Times of India 19 Apr. 8/2 The apprehensions..have raised the prospects of an unprecedented agitation by the 100,000-odd workers in Maharashtra's hundred-plus co-operative sugar factories.
2011 Statesman (Pakistan) (Nexis) 30 Jan. They have taken to the streets..in the shape of the most violent agitation against the three-decade regime of American-backed President Hosni Mubarak.
ΚΠ
1647 H. Woodward As you Were (title) A Posture of Peace: Presenting to your view the broken state of the Kingdom, as it now stands, with a good way to rally it to its former happiness. With some remarkable Passages of late Agitation.
a1671 T. Fairfax Short Mem. (1699) 116 The Army was almost wholly infected with this Humour of Agitation.
a1671 T. Fairfax Short Mem. (1699) 105 I shall now descend to some particulars of their Agitations.
1863 R. Vaughan Revol. in Eng. Hist. III. xii. iii. 314 Ireton and Fleetwood had no doubt been parties in encouraging and directing the agitation they were thus deputed to allay.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1547