agitare

Agitare is an Italian verb with several related meanings centered on movement, disturbance, or stirring. It can describe a physical action, such as shaking or stirring a substance, as well as a figurative one, such as arousing emotions or inciting action. The verb can be used transitively with a direct object (agitare una bottiglia, to shake a bottle) or reflexively or intransitively to express becoming unsettled or agitated (agitarsi, to become agitated).

Etymology and related forms: Agitare comes from the Latin agitare, a frequentative of agere, meaning to drive, act, or do. The sense of moving something back and forth or stirring up leads to a broad set of uses in Italian. From the same root derive the noun agitazione (agitation), the agent noun agitator (agitante or agitatori), and related adjectives. Cognate terms appear in other Romance languages, such as French agiter and Spanish agitar. In English, agitate shares a direct lineage and similar meanings, including both physical stirring and emotional or social stirring.

Common usages and nuances: Physically, agitare describes shaking or stirring liquids, powders, or containers. Figuratively, it can mean to provoke or excite strong feelings, as in agitare la folla (to agitate the crowd) or agitare l’opinione pubblica (to stir up public opinion). The reflexive form, agitarsi, denotes becoming nervous or restless. In scientific or culinary contexts, agitare a solution or mixture means to mix it by shaking or stirring.

See also: agitation (agitazione/agitación), agitator, agitation-related expressions, and cognate verbs in Romance languages.