agenda
[uh-jen-duh]
- a list, plan, outline, or the like, of things to be done, matters to be acted or voted upon, etc.: The chairman says we have a lengthy agenda this afternoon.
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Origin of agenda
1745–55; < Latin, plural of agendum that which is to be done, gerund of agere to do; the plural orig. carried a collective sense denoting the various items to be transacted
Usage note
Agenda, “things to be done,” is the plural of the Latin gerund agendum and is used today in the sense “a plan or list of matters to be acted upon.” In that sense it is treated as a singular noun; its plural is usually agendas: The agenda is ready for distribution. The agendas of last year's meetings are printed in the official minutes. The singular agendum, meaning “an item on an agenda,” is rare.
agendum
[uh-jen-duh m]
- an agenda.
- something that is to be done.
- an item on an agenda.
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Origin of agendum
1895–1900; < Latin, gerund of agere to do
Usage note
See agenda.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for agenda
Contemporary Examples
ALEC attracted corporations that saw an opportunity to push an agenda, regardless of ideology.
Normalcy and reality were keystones of the Republican agenda.
First, the party needs to start working on a post-Obama agenda.
Or they might block some judgeships but work with the president in a few areas in order to build an agenda to run on in 2016.
The event was ostensibly a “Woman for Cuomo” event, designed to highlight his agenda for female voters.
Historical Examples
The next thing on the agenda is a crash-priority try at a peyondix team.
Masters of SpaceEdward Elmer Smith
The report was first on the agenda, so the kids could go home to bed.
StopoverWilliam Gerken
It will prepare the agenda for the meetings of the conference.
It, too, can be divided to five categories of ownership and agenda.
After the RainSam Vaknin
As the next motion on the agenda paper may I suggest that the house do now adjourn?
UlyssesJames Joyce
agenda
- Also called: agendum (functioning as singular) a schedule or list of items to be attended to
- Also called: agendas, agendums (functioning as plural) matters to be attended to, as at a meeting of a committee
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Word Origin
C17: Latin, literally: things to be done, from agere to do
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for agenda
n.
1650s, from Latin agenda, literally "things to be done," neuter plural of agendus, gerundive of agere "to do" (see act (n.)). Originally theological (opposed to matters of belief), sense of "items of business to be done at a meeting" first attested 1882. "If a singular is required (=one item of the agenda) it is now agendum, the former singular agend being obsolete" [Fowler].
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper