agent

A2 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈeɪ.d͡ʒənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #926

Meanings

1

noun
A person who arranges business or deals on behalf of someone else.

Her literary agent negotiated the book contract.
2

noun
A person who works secretly for a government or intelligence service; a spy.

The secret agent passed information to her superiors in London.
3

noun
A substance that produces a particular effect.

Bleach is a powerful cleaning agent.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person who arranges... representative rep

More actor performer

Opposites

patient recipient undergoer

Word family

Forms agents

Derived forms agent-generalagent-orientedagentedagenteseagentessagenthoodagentialagenticagenticityagentingagentiveagentless

Related forms act action agency proxy

Appears in

Phrases (10)

See all

secret agent
a spy or intelligence operative who works covertly for a government or organisation

Adjective + noun
contact an agent
to get in touch with an agent for assistance or representation

Verb + noun
hire an agent
to employ an agent to act on one's behalf professionally

Verb + noun
use an agent
to employ an agent's services for a specific purpose

Verb + noun
special agent
a law-enforcement or intelligence officer with broad investigative powers

Adjective + noun
double agent
a spy who secretly works for two opposing sides simultaneously

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Agent entered English in the late Middle Ages with the basic sense “someone or something that does.” It derives ultimately from Latin agere, meaning “to do” or “to drive.”

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Latin agēnsder. English agent From Latin agēns, present active participle of agere (“to drive, lead, conduct, manage, perform, do”).

*h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European agēns Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society Register & Style

External links

# agent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈeɪ.d͡ʒənt/
**Frequency rank:** 926

## Meanings
1. A person who arranges business or deals on behalf of someone else.
2. A person who works secretly for a government or intelligence service; a spy.
3. A substance that produces a particular effect.

## Examples
- Her literary agent negotiated the book contract.
- The secret agent passed information to her superiors in London.
- Bleach is a powerful cleaning agent.

## Synonyms
- actor
- performer

## Antonyms
- patient
- recipient
- undergoer

## Derived Forms
- agent-general
- agent-oriented
- agented
- agentese
- agentess
- agenthood
- agential
- agentic
- agenticity
- agenting
- agentive
- agentless

## Related Forms
- act
- action
- agency
- proxy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂eǵ-
- Root: agēns

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Latin agēnsder. English agent From Latin agēns, present active participle of agere (“to drive, lead, conduct, manage, perform, do”).

## AI Etymology
Agent comes from Latin agēns, present active participle of agere (“to drive, lead, conduct, manage, perform, do”). The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Register & Style

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