agent
UK/'eidʒәnt/US
NGSL 1kTOEFLA2
Definitions
n.
A person who acts on behalf of another; a representative
代理人，经纪人，代办
n.
A spy or someone working secretly for a government
特工，间谍
n.
A substance or force that produces an effect
（产生效果的）剂，媒介，动因
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedag (drive/do) + -ent (one who) = the doer, the active party. An agent is whoever or whatever does the acting: a person acting for you (real-estate agent), a person acting secretly (secret agent), or a substance that makes something happen (cleaning agent). The thread is always 'the active cause.'
Root ag still carries 21 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.travel agent旅行社代办
- 2.secret agent特工
- 3.estate agent房产中介
- 4.free agent自由球员／自由人
- 5.cleaning agent清洁剂
Example Sentences
- 1.
Her agent negotiated the book deal.
- 2.
He turned out to be a foreign agent.
- 3.
Bleach is a powerful cleaning agent.