agent

agent [ā′jənt]

n.

[L agens (gen. agentis), prp. of agere, ACT¹]

1. a person or thing that performs an action or brings about a certain result, or that is able to do so

2. an active force or substance producing an effect [a chemical agent]

3. a person, firm, etc. empowered to act for another

☆ 4. a representative of a government agency [revenue agent ]

☆ 5. Informal a traveling salesperson

6. Gram. the word or words designating the person or thing that performs the action of the verb in a sentence

vi., vt.

to act or work as an agent (on)

SYN.- an AGENT is, generally, a person or thing that acts or is capable of acting, or, in this comparison, one who or that which acts, or is empowered to act, for another [the company's agent]; FACTOR now usually denotes an agent for the sale of goods; a DEPUTY is a public official to whom certain authority has been delegated by superiors; PROXY implies the delegation of power to substitute for another in some formal or ceremonial detail [some stockholders vote by proxy]