rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: agere
Latin

agere

drive, set in motion; do

Forms

  • ag-
  • act- — Latin stem of the form meaning ‘done.’
  • -ig- — Used in some Latin compounds.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ag-, ‘drive; lead.’

Note

A root for driving things forward also came to describe performing an action.

5 / 26
noun

agenda

uh-JEN-duh/əˈdʒendə/

A set of matters or aims to be pursued.

The agenda lists the budget, schedule, and next steps for discussion.

A meeting agenda sheet with three exact entries: Budget, Schedule, Next steps.
Etymology
agLatindrive, set in motion; do
+endaLatinneeding or intended to be acted upon

The root “do” and the ending expressing necessity make agenda literally “things to be done.” Those required tasks became items of meeting business, hence a list of matters for discussion or action.

In context

City of Durham NC 3:28
the agenda and all materials to be discussed today may be viewed at any time during today's meeting
Historic Preservation Commission- July 7, 2020

More examples

  • Housing reform is central to the mayor's political agenda.
  • Their competing agendas made cooperation difficult.
  • Please send any additions to tomorrow's meeting agenda.

Forms

agenda · agendas

Similar words

schedule
Usually lists times and activities rather than matters for discussion.
program
Suggests a planned series of actions rather than underlying aims.