agent

[ey-juh nt] /ˈeɪ dʒənt/
noun
1.
a person or business authorized to act on another's behalf:
Our agent in Hong Kong will ship the merchandise. A best-selling author needs a good agent.
2.
a person or thing that acts or has the power to act.
3.
a natural force or object producing or used for obtaining specific results:
Many insects are agents of fertilization.
4.
an active cause; an efficient cause.
5.
a person who works for or manages an agency.
6.
a person who acts in an official capacity for a government or private agency, as a guard, detective, or spy:
an FBI agent; the secret agents of a foreign power.
7.
a person responsible for a particular action:
Who was the agent of this deed?
8.
Grammar. a form or construction, usually a noun or noun phrase, denoting an animate being that performs or causes the action expressed by the verb, as the police in The car was found by the police.
9.
Indian agent.
10.
a representative of a business firm, especially a traveling salesperson; canvasser; solicitor.
11.
Chemistry. a substance that causes a reaction.
12.
Pharmacology. a drug or chemical capable of eliciting a biological response.
13.
Pathology. any microorganism capable of causing disease.
14.
British. a campaign manager; an election agent.
adjective
15.
acting; exerting power (opposed to patient).
verb (used with object)
16.
to represent (a person or thing) as an agent; act as an agent for:
to agent a manuscript; Who agented that deal?
Origin
1570-80; < Latin agent- (stem of agēns (present participle) doing), equivalent to ag- (root of agere to do) + -ent- -ent
Related forms
counteragent, noun
interagent, noun
superagent, noun
underagent, noun
Synonyms
1. representative, deputy. 3. means.
Examples from the web for agents
  • Many of the other chemical agents currently used may also become obsolete.
  • We had less than a half dozen border patrol agents and a few customs officers at the border.
  • Wind, steam, and lightning are its chartered agents.
  • Living birds can hardly fail to be highly effective agents in the transportation of seeds.
  • For this exposure of supernatural agents upon a stage is truly bringing in a candle to expose their own delusiveness.
  • We are all agents of the same supreme power, the people.
  • We are escorted on every hand through life by spiritual agents, and a beneficent purpose lies in wait for us.
  • They are moral agents of the first value in the slum.
  • And these two were of those whom they style agents for the public affairs.
  • Soon a team of government agents appeared to direct a complete cleanup-and cover-up-operation.
British Dictionary definitions for agents

agent

/ˈeɪdʒənt/
noun
1.
a person who acts on behalf of another person, group, business, government, etc; representative
2.
a person or thing that acts or has the power to act
3.
a phenomenon, substance, or organism that exerts some force or effect: a chemical agent
4.
the means by which something occurs or is achieved; instrument: wind is an agent of plant pollination
5.
a person representing a business concern, esp a travelling salesman
6.
(Brit) short for estate agent
7.
short for secret agent
Derived Forms
agential (eɪˈdʒɛnʃəl) adjective
Word Origin
C15: from Latin agent-, noun use of the present participle of agere to do
Word Origin and History for agents

agent

n.

late 15c., "one who acts," from Latin agentem (nominative agens) "effective, powerful," present participle of agere "to set in motion, drive, lead, conduct" (see act (n.)). Meaning "any natural force or substance which produces a phenomenon" is from 1550s. Meaning "deputy, representative" is from 1590s. Sense of "spy, secret agent" is attested by 1916.

adj.

1610s, from agent (n.).

agents in Medicine

agent a·gent (ā'jənt)
n.
A force or substance, such as a chemical, that causes a change.

agents in Science
agent
  (ā'jənt)   
A substance that can bring about a chemical reaction or a biological effect. Compare reagent.