agitante

Agitante is a term used in Romance languages, notably Italian and Spanish, with origins in the Latin agitare, meaning to stir, drive, or provoke. In both languages, agitante generally functions as an adjective formed from the present participle of the verb, describing something that causes agitation or stirring. It can be used in metaphorical sense to refer to rhetoric, events, or emotions that provoke a reaction.

In Italian, agitante is primarily an adjective meaning “that agitates, stirs, or arouses.” It is commonly employed to describe situations, news, or discourse that provokes a strong response, such as un discorso agitante or notizie agitanti. As a noun, agitante is uncommon; more typical nouns for related ideas are agitazione (agitation) and agitatore (agitator). The term can appear in journalistic or literary contexts to convey a sense of stirring or incitement.

In Spanish, agitante functions similarly as an adjective meaning “that agitates or provokes agitation.” It can describe events, ideas, or news, for example noticias agitantes or una situación agitante. Like Italian usage, it is less common as a standalone noun; when referring to a person who promotes agitation, agitador is the standard term.

In technical or scientific contexts, agitante may appear in compound phrases to indicate a device or action that produces stirring, as in “agitación mecánica” or “pieza agitante.” In such cases, however, the nouns asociado a la acción, such as agitación or agitador, are typically preferred.

Etymology: from Latin agitare, with the suffix -ante forming adjectives and participles in Romance languages. See also agitation, agitator, agitate.