agent
/ˈeɪdʒənt/
noun
Origin
Latin
agere — to do, act, or drive
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person or thing that takes an active role or produces a specified effect.
- A person who acts on behalf of another person or group.
Literal older meaning
one who is doing or acting
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
agent
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The word entered English during the Renaissance, derived from the Latin active participle 'agens'. It initially referred to forces of nature or philosophical causes, later expanding to include human representatives (such as literary or government agents) by the early 17th century.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*h₂eǵ-
“to drive, drag, move”
Root for actions of movement and conduct.
- Latin
agens, agentem
“doing, acting”
Present participle of agere.
- Middle French
agent
“one who acts”
Direct borrowing from Latin.
- 16th-century English
agent
“an actor or deputy”
Initially used in philosophical and legal contexts.
Connections
Word parts
ag-
root
to do or act
-ent
suffix
agentive suffix forming nouns from participles
Related across languages
French
agent or officer
Italian
agente
agent
Related words
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Related to agent
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.