agitate

verb

Etymology: 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.

1. To disturb or excite; to perturb or stir up (a person).

   “He was greatly agitated by the news.”

2. To cause to move with a violent, irregular action; to shake.

   “to agitate water in a vessel”

   “The wind agitates the sea.”

3. To participate in political agitation (sense 3).

   “NAMBLA is working to build a coalition of gay, lesbian, progressive and civil liberties groups to agitate against the increasing state attacks on gay men who associate with boys.”

4. To set in motion; to actuate.
5. To discuss or debate.

   “Your speech at the time a bill for the regency was agitated now lies before me.”

6. To mull over, or think deeply about; to consider, to devise.

   “Politicians agitate desperate designs.”