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   A·gent

   /ˈāj(ə)nt/

   

   noun

   • 1. a person who acts on behalf of another person or group: "in the event of illness, a durable power of attorney enabled her nephew to act as her agent" Similar representativenegotiatorbusiness manageremissaryenvoyfactorgo-betweenproxysurrogatetrusteeliaisonbrokerdelegatespokespersonspokesmanspokeswomanfrontmanmouthpieceinformal:rep
   • ▪ a person who manages business, financial, or contractual matters for an actor, performer, writer, etc.: "his agent was able to negotiate a long-term contract"
   • ▪ a person or company that provides a particular service, typically one that involves organizing transactions between two other parties: "a travel agent" Similar agencybusinessorganizationcompanyfirmofficebureauconcernservice
   • ▪ a person who obtains information for a government or other official body, typically in secret: "a trained intelligence agent" Similar spysecret agentundercover agentoperativefifth columnistMata Hariinformal:molespooksnooperG-manarchaic:intelligencerbeaglelurcher
   • 2. a person or thing that takes an active role or produces a specified effect: "these teachers view themselves as agents of social change" Similar mediummeansinstrumentvehiclepowerforce
   • ▪ a substance that brings about a chemical or physical effect or causes a chemical reaction: "there is an urgent need for new antimicrobial agents to combat infections"
   • ▪ the doer of an action, typically expressed as the subject of an active verb or in a by phrase with a passive verb. Similar doerperformerauthorexecutorperpetratoroperatoroperativemoverproducercauseoriginrootsourceinstrumentcatalyst

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘someone or something that produces an effect’): from Latin agent- ‘doing’, from agere.

   Scrabble Points: 6

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   • G

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