French Conversation · Level 109
60 words
French word
agiter
Pronunciation
IPA/aʒite/
Meaning
- verbwave
Example
Il agite la main.
He waves his hand.
More examples
Avant de servir, il agite la bouteille.
Before serving, he shakes the bottle.
Core concept
A force repeatedly sets something in motion until its contents mix or a person's calm is disturbed.
Common phrases
agiter la bouteille
shake the bottle
agiter la main
wave one's hand
Similar words
bouger: Moving an object or body so that its position or direction changes.
secouer: Shaking an object hard enough to move its contents or surface.
remuer: Moving the contents of a container around inside it to mix them.
troubler: Disturbing someone's emotional state and making them uneasy.
Definition in French
Faire bouger vivement un objet d'un côté à l'autre pour en mélanger ou en secouer le contenu ; employé aussi au sens figuré pour troubler quelqu'un.
Word origin
French agiter was borrowed from Latin agitare, formed from agere, 'to drive or move', with a repeated-action sense linked to shaking and disturbance.
Usage tips
- Agiter takes a direct object, so agiter un liquide and agiter quelqu'un require no preposition before the object.