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n. 1. One that acts or has the power or authority to act. 2. One empowered to act for or represent another: an author's agent; an insurance agent. 3. A means by which something is done or caused; an instrument. 4. A force or substance that causes a change: a chemical agent; an infectious agent. 5. A representative or official of a government or administrative department of a government: an FBI agent. 6. A spy. 7. Linguistics The argument that expresses the means or cause of an action or event described by a phrase or clause. The noun John is the agent in the clause John threw the ball. v. a·gent·ed, a·gent·ing, a·gents v.tr. To act as an agent or representative for: Who will agent your next book? v.intr. To act as an agent or representative. [Middle English, from Latin agēns, agent-, present participle of agere, to do; see ag- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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