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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.

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noun

agent

AY-juhnt/ˈeɪdʒənt/

A representative empowered to act for another.

The violinist's agent leads the discussion with the venue organizer.

A female representative conducts a business discussion on behalf of a young male violinist seated beside her: she extends a plain document toward a venue organizer across a small desk while the violinist holds his violin and watches with agreement.
Etymology
agLatindrive, set in motion; do
+entLatindoing or being something

The root “do” with a participial ending gives the idea of someone acting. Agent first meant “one who acts,” then developed the representative sense: someone authorized to act for another.

In context

The Scottish Parliament53:05
those who pay their rent to a letting agent can expect a higher standard but those who pay the rent to a landlord can't
Afternoon Plenary: Part 1 - Scottish Parliament: 25th June 2014

More examples

  • A federal agent interviewed witnesses about the suspected fraud.
  • The intelligence service recruited an agent inside the embassy.
  • The software agent checks the schedule and suggests available meeting times.

Forms

agent · agents

agency noun — An organization providing services or representation.

Similar words

representative
Emphasizes acting or speaking for another person or group.
delegate
Usually receives authority for a particular meeting or assignment.