agent English · revision 3136

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1471, Ripley|origins=la agō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈeɪ.dʒᵊnt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|agēns|t=doing, acting, effective]], stem agent-,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) perhaps influenced by Old French agent,^(Barnhart 1988) the present participle of [[m|la|agere|t=to set in motion, drive; to do, perform]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*ag-|t=to drive, draw out, move]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) which also gave Greek ágein “to lead” and Old Norse aka “to drive”.^(Barnhart 1988) Merriam-Webster traces it through Medieval Latin agens, “something that produces an effect, a person authorized to act for another”.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ 1471, in Ripley's ''Compend of Alchemy'',^(Barnhart 1988) as a force capable of acting on matter.^(MWU 2024) Etymonline gives the late 15th century, “one who acts”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A natural force or substance that produces an effect is from the 1550s,^(Etymonline) and in modern science any force or substance acting on matter, as a chemical agent, from 1756.^(OED 1989) A person who acts on behalf of another, a deputy or representative, is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and before 1593 in the OED.^(OED 1989) In America an ''Indian agent'' represented the government in dealings with a tribe from 1707.^(OED 1989) A spy, ''secret agent'', is attested by 1916.^(Etymonline) ''Agent Orange'', a defoliant used in the Vietnam War, is from 1970.^(OED 1989) The adjective, “acting”, as opposed to ''patient'', is from 1620.^(OED 1989) In Scotland an ''agent'' was a lawyer, and to ''agent'' a case was to manage it.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1471 – a force acting on matter.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1550s – a natural force producing an effect.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – a deputy, representative.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1620 – adjective, acting.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1707 – an Indian agent.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1756 – a chemical or physical agent.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1916 – a secret agent, a spy.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1970 – ''Agent Orange''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who acts for or represents another, as in business: ''an estate agent''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A person or thing that acts or has the power to act.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A force or substance that causes a change: ''a cleaning agent''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A representative of a government, especially a [[spy]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A means by which something is done; an [[instrument]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[act]]

+ * [[action]]

+ * [[agency]]

+ * [[agenda]]

+ * [[agile]]

+ * [[agitate]]

+ * [[navigate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}