Agitators

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Devices intended to mix or influence various substances
2. Individuals who actively encourage unrest or political action ; mechanical tools used to blend or move substances by shaking or stirring
3. People who incite others to take political or social action ; apparatus that cause liquids or materials to move for mixing purposes

Etymology: The word's core is the Latin verb "agere", meaning "to drive, set in motion", which gave English a set of verbs and nouns about driving things forward. "Agitator" comes from "agitate", borrowed from the Latin "agitatus", the past participle of "agitare", a frequentative of "agere" that suggests repeated or vigorous driving. The sense of physically shaking or stirring something came first, and figurative stirring of minds and feelings followed. The person sense arrived with the "-or" ending, which English took from Latin "-tor" through Old French "-eor" and Middle English "-our". Adding it to "agitate" produced a word for one who stirs up others, which is why the modern meaning is so direct: an agitator is someone who keeps things moving by pushing people into motion. Your plural "agitators" simply adds the regular "-s" to this noun, so it refers to several such people at once.

Synonyms: instigators, provocateurs, activists, troublemakers, stirrup

Antonyms: pacifiers, calmers, soothers