AGENT

agent

(noun) an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; “their research uncovered new disease agents”

agent, factor, broker

(noun) a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission

agent

(noun) a representative who acts on behalf of other persons or organizations

agent, federal agent

(noun) any agent or representative of a federal agency or bureau

agent

(noun) a substance that exerts some force or effect

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

agent (plural agents)

One who exerts power, or has the power to act

One who acts for, or in the place of, another (the principal), by authority from him/her; someone entrusted to do the business of another

A person who looks for work for another person

Someone who works for an intelligence agency

An active power or cause or substance; something which has the power to produce an effect

(computing) In the client-server model, the part of the system that performs information preparation and exchange on behalf of a client or server. Especially in the phrase “intelligent agent” it implies some kind of autonomous process which can communicate with other agents to perform some collective task on behalf of one or more humans.

(grammar) The participant of a situation that carries out the action in this situation, e.g. "the boy" in the sentences "The boy kicked the ball" and "The ball was kicked by the boy".

(gambling) A cheat who is assisted by dishonest casino staff.

Synonyms

• (one who exerts power): See also doer

• (one who acts in place of another): See also deputy

• (person who looks for work for another person): manager, representative, rep

• (someone who works for an intelligence agency): See also spy

• (grammar): actor, performer

Antonyms

• (grammar): patient, recipient, undergoer

Anagrams

• Tegan, gantĂ©, genta

Source: Wiktionary


A"gent, a. Etym: [L. agens, agentis, p. pr. of agere to act; akin to Gr. aka to drive, Skr. aj.

Definition: Actingpatient, or sustaining, action. [Archaic] "The body agent." Bacon.

A"gent, n.

1. One who exerts power, or has the power to act; an actor. Heaven made us agents, free to good or ill. Dryden.

2. One who acts for, or in the place of, another, by authority from him; one intrusted with the business of another; a substitute; a deputy; a factor.

3. An active power or cause; that which has the power to produce an effect; as, a physical, chemical, or medicinal agent; as, heat is a powerful agent.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

29 March 2024

FAULTFINDING

(adjective) tending to make moral judgments or judgments based on personal opinions; “a counselor tries not to be faultfinding”


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Coffee Trivia

The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.

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