agitatoren

Agitatoren (singular: Agitator) denotes two related meanings in German and English usage. In political and social contexts, an agitator is a person who seeks to influence public opinion or mobilize people for a cause, often through speeches, pamphlets, rallies, or media campaigns. The aim is to provoke action, shape debates, or apply pressure on authorities. Throughout history, agitators have played roles in revolutions, labor movements, and social campaigns; they are viewed variously as organizers and reform advocates or as provocateurs and subversives, depending on perspective and legal context.

In industrial and laboratory settings, an agitator is a mechanical device used to stir, mix, or suspend liquids within a vessel. Common designs include impellers mounted on a shaft driven by a motor, with configurations such as turbine, paddle, anchor, or propeller elements. The purpose is to achieve homogeneity, improve heat transfer, maintain suspension of solids, or promote chemical reactions. The choice of design depends on viscosity, solids content, and the required mixing intensity.

Etymology: the term derives from Latin agitare, meaning to drive or stir up, and entered German and English through various routes, with modern usage often requiring context to distinguish between the human and the mechanical meanings.