ppl. a. [f. prec. + -ED.]
† 1. Moved, set in motion. Obs.
1620. (See under AGITATE v. 1].
1659. Hammond, On Psalm civ. 3. 516. Those agitated clouds, whereby, as with wings, the Angels fly down to us.
2. Moved to and fro; shaken, disturbed.
1660. Dryden, Astr. Red., 273. As those lees, that trouble it, refine The agitated soul of generous wine.
1826. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, II. xiii. 66. The solitary clerk no longer found time to answer the often agitated bell.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 172. However agitated the surface of the sea may be.
3. Excited, disturbed in mind, having the feelings greatly moved.
1756. Burke, Subl. & B., Wks. 1842, I. 73. An impassioned countenance, an agitated gesture.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 623. He was greatly agitated. The blood left his cheeks.
4. Debated, discussed, kept before the public by discussion.
1640–4. Order of Commons, in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 355. Notes of things brought into the House, Propounded or Agitated in the House.
1675. Baxter, Cath. Theol., I. I. 17. It is also an agitated Controversie with them, Whether it be Gods Essence as such which the Creatures are Represented and known in, or in his Knowledge it self as such?
1868. G. Duff, Polit. Surv., 104. The long agitated scheme for running a railway down the Euphrates valley.
