| Front | agita \AJ-uh-tuh\ |
|---|---|
| Back | noun Heartburn, agitation or anxiety. [Judging by its spelling and meaning, you might think that "agita" is simply a shortened version of "agitation," but that's not the case. Both "agitation" and the verb "agitate" derive from Latin "agere" ("to drive"). "Agita," which first appeared in American English in the early 1980s, comes from a dialectical pronunciation of the Italian word "acido," meaning "heartburn" or "acid," from Latin "acidus." ("Agita" is also occasionally used in English with the meaning "heartburn.") For a while the word's usage was limited to New York City and surrounding regions, but the word became more widespread in the mid-90s.] "The idea of having only one key standing between me and a totally moribund Camaro gives me agita, however. A second key is clearly advisable. Like all great business executives, I delegate the problem to my chief operating officer in these matters, my wife - who is, as you may guess, a woman." - Stanley Bing, Bing! It's a !@#$% Man's World, Fortune (New York), Oct 14, 2002. "Ms. Falco and Mr. Tucci bring a more earthy, New York agita to the roles. After growing up in the New York suburbs -- she on Long Island, he in Westchester County -- the two have made careers playing incomplete, angular characters." - John Leland, Haltingly, Layers Of Clothing Fall Away, The New York Times, Aug 4, 2002. |
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