agenda

Definitions

agenda is Latin grammar frozen into English: it's the plural of agendum, 'a thing that must be done' (ag = do/drive). So an agenda is literally a list of things-to-be-done. English now treats it as singular ('the agenda is long').

Why It Means This

agenda is a fossil of Latin grammar — the plural of agendum, 'something to be done.' That history explains the two modern senses: openly, the list of things to be done at a meeting; covertly, the things someone secretly intends to get done (a 'hidden agenda').

Common Collocations

• 1.hidden agenda隐藏的意图
• 2.on the agenda在议程上
• 3.set the agenda设定议程
• 4.political agenda政治议程

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The first item on the agenda is the budget.

• 2.

  Critics say the politician has a hidden agenda.

• 3.

  Climate change is high on the global agenda.