agitation
noun/ædʒ.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
Etymology From French agitation, from Latin agitātiō (“movement, agitation”).
1
The act of agitating, or the state of being agitated; the state of being disrupted with violence, or with irregular action; commotion.
- During a storm the sea is in agitation.
2
A disturbance of personal tranquillity; disturbance of someone's peace of mind; an emotion combining irritation, restlessness and aggravation; a feeling of being riled up or bothered to the point of experiencing distress and tension.
- She causes great agitation within me.
3
Excitement of public feeling by discussion, appeals, etc.
- the antislavery agitation
- labor agitation
2 more examples
- After this conflict pro-independence agitation temporarily died down.
- […] religious agitations […]1855–1858, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip the Second, King of Spain, volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson, and Company, →OCLC:
4
Archaic Examination or consideration of a subject in controversy, or of a plan proposed for adoption; earnest discussion; debate.
- […] a logical agitation of the matter […]1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
- […] the project now in agitation […]1732, Jonathan Swift, The Advantages Proposed by Repealing the Sacramental Test:
5
Putting into motion by shaking or stirring, often to achieve mixing.
- Synonyms
- emotion, commotion, excitement, trepidation, tremor, perturbation
- Derived terms
- agitational, agitationist, agitprop, counteragitation, microagitation, overagitation, underagitation