agitate

The story

1. Latin · borrowed fromagitātus
2. Middle English · inherited fromagitat(e)“set in motion”
3. English todayagitate

From Middle English agitat(e) (“set in motion”), borrowed from Latin agitātus, perfect passive participle of agitō (“to put in motion”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), frequentative of agō (“to drive, move, push”), see -tō. Cognate with French agiter. See also act and agent.

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. To disturb or excite; to perturb or stir up (a person).
• from 16th c. To cause to move with a violent, irregular action; to shake.
• 16th–18th c. To set in motion; to actuate.
• from 16th c. To discuss or debate.
• from 17th c. To mull over, or think deeply about; to consider, to devise.