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agitatio

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word agitatio

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
81–43 BC, Cicero
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*h₂eǵ-e/o-)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin ago
French agir
Latin actrix
Latin ambigo
Latin actio
French action
Latin abigo
Latin dego
Latin perago
Latin adigo
Latin activus
English active
English activist
Latin actus
English act
Latin actuosus
Latin actor
English actor
English actress
French acteur
Latin subigo
Latin circumago
Latin agito
French agiter
Latin agitatio
Latin exagito
Latin redigo
Latin agilis
Latin cogo
Latin coactor

Forms

agitātiō f (genitive agitātiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin agitō (“to set in motion, drive about”) + -tiō.[2][1] agitō is a frequentative of agō (“to drive”),[3][1] which de Vaan traces to Proto-Italic *ag-e/o- and Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-e/o- (“to drive, lead”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Cicero,[5] who in the speech for Murena asks why the sea has such varied motions and changes of its waves.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

It is violent movement: Livy uses it of the brandishing of weapons and of a litter's swaying,[2][6] Cicero of the waves and of the motion of the tongue;[2][6] Varro uses it of movement without violence.[2] In the Vulgate the earth will be shaken with shaking.[6] Figuratively, mostly in philosophical language, it is activity: Cicero says the mind can never be free of activity and motion, and speaks of the pursuit of studies and the management of great affairs;[6][2] he contrasts action with mere activity of the mind, thought.[2][6] Seneca speaks of the wise man's practice of the virtues,[6] and Columella of the working of land.[2] The English agitation first meant debate, a mental tossing to and fro.[3]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of the motion of the sea.[2][5]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro of movement without violence.[2]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of the brandishing of weapons.[2]
  • 1st century AD – Columella of working the land.[2]
  • 1560s – agitation appears in English, from French.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A violent moving, brandishing, waving, shaking.[2][6]
  2. Motion, movement; agitation, disturbance.[2][6][1]
  3. The pursuit, practice, exercise (of an activity); mentis agitātiō, mental activity, thought.[2][6][1]
  4. The working, cultivation (of land).[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Agitatio.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/agitatio. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·