| 释义 |
agent
I. \ˈājənt\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English, from Medieval Latin agent-, agens, from Latin, present participle; in senses 2, 3 & 4, from French or Latin; French, from Latin, present participle; in sense 5, from Late Latin & Medieval Latin, from Latin, present participle
1.
a. : something that produces or is capable of producing a certain effect : an active or efficient cause : a force effecting or facilitating a certain result
< the … emergence of the Christian church as the civilizing agent of the western world — Helen Sullivan >
b. : a substance capable of producing a chemical reaction or a physical or biological effect : an active principle
< chromic acid is an oxidizing agent >
< detergents are surface-active agents or wetting agents >
2.
a. : one that acts or exerts power (as by driving, inciting, or setting in motion) : a moving force
< the distinction between agent and patient, between something which acts and some other thing which is acted upon — Francis Bowen >
b. : a person who originates a telepathic impulse or message — compare percipient
3. : one that acts or performs an act (as an act involving reason, conscience, and free will) : a person responsible for his act or acts
< for that same deed now at Lorenzo's church both agents, conscious and inconscious, lie — Robert Browning >
4. : a means or instrument by which a guiding intelligence achieves a result : a person governed, guided, or instigated by another in some action
< where the heads of departments are the political or confidential agents of the executive, merely to execute the will of the president — John Marshall >
5. : one that acts for or in the place of another by authority from him: as
a. : a representative, emissary, or official of a government
< a crown agent >
< an Indian agent >
< a secret-service agent >
b. : a special representative sent from one military organization to another to establish and maintain liaison
c. : a field worker from a welfare bureau
d. : a paid party worker who manages the financial and other affairs of a British political party during an election and is legally responsible for any corrupt practices
e. : a business representative: as
(1) : a manager of an assigned territory or a branch office or plant of an industry
(2) : one that sells and rents real estate on a commission basis
(3) : an independent sales or service representative of an insurance company usually paid on a commission basis
Synonyms: see mean
II. adjective
Etymology: Latin agent-, agens, present participle of agere to drive, lead, act, do; akin to Old Norse aka to travel in a vehicle, Greek agein to lead, drive, Old Irish ad-aig to drive, Sanskrit ajati (he) goes, drives
archaic : acting or exerting power — opposed to patient |