エージェント、名詞・形容詞の意味、語源など | オックスフォード英語辞典

agent, n.¹ & adj. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary Skip to main content Factsheet Etymology Meaning & use Pronunciation Forms Frequency Compounds & derived words Dictionary Historical Thesaurus Factsheet Quotations Hide all quotations Factsheet What does the word agent mean? There are 14 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word agent . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. agent has developed meanings and uses in subjects including grammar (early 1600s) chemistry (early 1600s) espionage (1800s) theatre (1820s) finance (1820s) parapsychology (1880s) computing (1970s) See meaning & use How common is the word agent ? About 100 occurrences per million words in modern written English 1750 30 1760 33 1770 37 1780 36 1790 41 1800 45 1810 48 1820 54 1830 64 1840 68 1850 72 1860 69 1870 67 1880 72 1890 68 1900 73 1910 83 1920 78 1930 76 1940 86 1950 87 1960 87 1970 87 1980 94 1990 99 2000 110 2010 110 See frequency What is the etymology of the word agent ? agent is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French . Partly a borrowing from Latin . Etymons: French agent ; Latin agent- , agēns , agere . See etymology What is the earliest known use of the word agent ? Earliest known use Middle English The earliest known use of the word agent is in the Middle English period (1150—1500). OED's earliest evidence for agent is from before 1500, in the writing of George Ripley, alchemist and Augustinian canon. See meaning & use How is the word agent pronounced? British English /ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nt/ AY-juhnt U.S. English /ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nt/ AY-juhnt See pronunciation Nearby entries agenda paper, n. 1837– agender, adj. 1996– agendum, n. 1849– agene, n. 1921– agenesic, adj. 1864– agenesis, n. 1827– age-new, adj. 1938– agenization, n. 1949– agenized, adj. 1946– agennesia, n. 1823– agent, n.¹ & adj. a1500– agent, n.² 1841– agent, v. 1637– agente provocateuse, n. 1918– agentess, n. 1757– agent general, n. 1659– agential, adj. 1843– agentially, adv. 1713– agentic, adj. 1966– agenting, n. 1646– agentive, adj. & n. 1840– Browse more nearby entries Etymology Thank you for visiting Oxford English Dictionary To continue reading, please sign in below or purchase a subscription. After purchasing, please sign in below to access the content. 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View our subscription options Personal account Access or purchase personal subscriptions Get our newsletter Save searches Set display preferences Sign in Register Institutional access Sign in through your institution Sign in with library card Sign in with username / password Recommend to your librarian Institutional account management Sign in as administrator on Oxford Academic Entry history for agent, n.¹ & adj. agent, n.¹ & adj. was revised in September 2012. agent, n.¹ & adj. was last modified in March 2026. Revision of the OED is a long-term project, and oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include: corrections and revisions to definitions, especially to improve clarity, accuracy, or intelligibility; new or updated quotation evidence, and reverified or redated bibliographical information; new or updated pronunciations (transcriptions and audio files); new or revised etymological information and improved coverage of variant spellings; new senses or phrases added in print and online updates since OED2 (1989). Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into agent, n.¹ & adj. in March 2026. Earlier versions of this entry were published in: OED First Edition (1884) Find out more OED Second Edition (1989) Find out more View agent, ppl. a. and n. in OED Second Edition Cite Permanent link: Chicago 18 Oxford English Dictionary , “ ,” , . Copy to clipboard Copied to clipboard MLA 9 “ ” Oxford English Dictionary , Oxford UP, , . Copy to clipboard Copied to clipboard APA 7 Oxford University Press. (n.d.). In Oxford English dictionary . Retrieved , from Copy to clipboard Copied to clipboard Select format to download citation .ris (Papers, Zotero) .enw (EndNote) .txt (RefWorks) Download Contribute Please submit your feedback for agent, n.¹ & adj. Please include your email address if you are happy to be contacted about your feedback. OUP will not use this email address for any other purpose. Section (required) Factsheet Etymology Meaning & use Pronunciation Forms Frequency Compounds & derived words Other Feedback (required) Submit Citation details Factsheet for agent, n.¹ & adj. Browse entry Nearby entries agenda paper, n. 1837– agender, adj. 1996– agendum, n. 1849– agene, n. 1921– agenesic, adj. 1864– agenesis, n. 1827– age-new, adj. 1938– agenization, n. 1949– agenized, adj. 1946– agennesia, n. 1823– agent, n.¹ & adj. a1500– agent, n.² 1841– agent, v. 1637– agente provocateuse, n. 1918– agentess, n. 1757– agent general, n. 1659– agential, adj. 1843– agentially, adv. 1713– agentic, adj. 1966– agenting, n. 1646– agentive, adj. & n. 1840– Browse more nearby entries