agitate

Etymology

From Middle English, from Latin agitatus, past participle of agitare (“to put in motion”), from agere (“to move”). Compare with French agiter. See act, agent.

verb

1. (transitive) To disturb or excite; to perturb or stir up (a person).
   He was greatly agitated by the news.
2. (transitive) To cause to move with a violent, irregular action; to shake.
   the wind agitates the sea
   to agitate water in a vessel
   It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness. 1830, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford
3. (transitive, obsolete) To set in motion; to actuate.
4. (transitive, now rare) To discuss or debate.
5. (transitive, now rare) To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to consider, to devise.
   politicians agitate desperate designs