AGITATION

agitation |ˌajiˈtā sh ən| noun 1 a state of anxiety or nervous excitement : she was wringing her hands in agitation. • the action of arousing public concern about an issue and pressing for action on it : widespread agitation for social reform. 2 the action of briskly stirring or disturbing something, esp. a liquid. ORIGIN mid 16th cent.(in the sense [action, being active] ): from Latin agitatio(n-), from the verb agitare (see agitate ).