agō

ag + -ō, Nwf. ágō== Latin ==

Etymology

From Proto-Italic *agō, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti.

Cognate with Old Irish aigid, Ancient Greek ἄγω (ágō, “I lead”), Old Norse aka (“move, drive”), Avestan 𐬀𐬰𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌‎ (azaⁱti), Sanskrit अजति (ájati, “to drive, propel, cast”).

Pronunciation

(Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈa.ɡoː/, [ˈäɡoː]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈa.ɡo/, [ˈäːɡo]

Audio (Classical)

Verb

agō (present infinitive agere, perfect active ēgī, supine āctum); third conjugation

to act, to behave [ quotations ▼]
to do [ quotations ▼]
to make (something that does not continue to exist after the maker stops)
to negotiate, discuss, confer, talk with one about a person or thing
to effect, accomplish, achieve
to treat, to deal
to act, play, perform (e.g., a role in a play)
to perform, transact, conduct, manage (e.g. business, affairs)
to administer, direct, guide, govern [ quotations ▼]
to drive (sense of providing an impetus for motion), impel, move, push, put in motion [ quotations ▼]
to conduct, drive (sense of providing governance to motion) [ quotations ▼]
to discuss, debate, deliberate (used in civil, political and legal contexts)
(law) to plead
to think upon; to be occupied with [ quotations ▼]
to aim at, to get at (generally in the subjunctive mood and preceded by ut, and so meaning: "that to might achieve...")
to stir up, excite, cause, induce
to disturb, agitate, vex
to lead, drive (e.g., livestock)
to chase, pursue
to drive at, pursue (a course of action)
to rob, steal, plunder, carry off
(of time) to pass, spend, lead
(of offerings) to slay, kill (as a sacrifice)
(of plants) to put forth, sprout, extend
(law) to hold (a court)
(passive voice) to go on, to take place, to be at issue

Usage notes

Ago renders a sense of doing or making which is continuative or behavioral. For a sense of a specific instance or occasion of doing or making, see facio. For a sense of doing or making which is yet more continuative, see agito and gero.

According to Döderlein, another difference between ago and facio when they mean "make" is that ago typically has to do with making something that does not continue after the "actor" stops doing the action; whereas with facio, the object continues to exist after the maker has made the thing. In other words, ago is temporal, whereas facio is spatial.