← Latin for Medics, Pharmacists and Herbalists
The verb agō is one of the most versatile and frequently used verbs in Latin, particularly important in medical and pharmaceutical contexts. Its basic meanings include "to drive," "to do," "to act," "to lead," and "to conduct." In medical Latin, it often appears in phrases describing how medicines act, how procedures are conducted, and how bodily processes function.
Q: What does agō mean in Latin? A: Agō is a 3rd conjugation Latin verb meaning "to drive, do, act, lead, or conduct." In medical contexts, it frequently describes the action of medicines, the conducting of procedures, or the functioning of bodily processes.
In this lesson, we'll explore how agō and its compounds are used in medical, pharmaceutical, and herbalist contexts. You'll encounter it describing: -
How medicines act upon the body -
The conducting of medical procedures -
The discussion of symptoms and treatments -
The preparation and administration of herbal remedies
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Subject: Latin Language Learning -
Level: Beginner to Intermediate -
Focus: Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Herbalist Vocabulary -
Language of Instruction: English -
Target Language: Latin
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agō is a 3rd conjugation verb with principal parts: agō, agere, ēgī, āctum -
In medical contexts, it often means "to act upon" or "to conduct" -
Common compounds include: coāgō (coagulate), reāgō (react), perāgō (carry through) -
The passive voice (agitur, āctus est) is frequently used in medical descriptions -
Understanding this verb is essential for reading pharmaceutical instructions and medical texts
69.1 Medicus physician aegrōtum sick person cūrā with care agit treats
69.2 Herbae herbs in in corpore body bene well agunt act
69.3 Pharmacopōla pharmacist negōtium business dīligenter diligently agit conducts
69.4 Quōmodo how hoc this medicāmentum medicine agit acts?
69.5 Vēnae veins sanguinem blood ad to cor heart agunt drive
69.6 Ēgī I conducted multās many cūrātiōnēs treatments hodiē today
69.7 Aegrōtus patient grātiās thanks medicō to physician agit gives
69.8 Āctum done est it is dē concerning tuā your valētūdine health
69.9 Nātūra nature morbōs diseases ē from corpore body agit drives
69.10 Agite act celeriter quickly ut so that aeger patient salvus safe sit may be
69.11 Febris fever aegrōtum patient graviter severely agit affects
69.12 Succus juice herbārum of herbs humōrēs humors forās out agit drives
69.13 Medicus physician vītam life perīculōsam dangerous agit leads
69.14 Remedia remedies contrā against dolōrem pain efficāciter effectively agunt act
69.15 Agitur it is acted dē concerning salūte health pūblicā public
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69.1 Medicus aegrōtum cūrā agit. The physician treats the patient with care.
69.2 Herbae in corpore bene agunt. The herbs act well in the body.
69.3 Pharmacopōla negōtium dīligenter agit. The pharmacist conducts his business diligently.
69.4 Quōmodo hoc medicāmentum agit? How does this medicine act?
69.5 Vēnae sanguinem ad cor agunt. The veins drive blood to the heart.
69.6 Ēgī multās cūrātiōnēs hodiē. I conducted many treatments today.
69.7 Aegrōtus grātiās medicō agit. The patient gives thanks to the physician.
69.8 Āctum est dē tuā valētūdine. Your health has been discussed.
69.9 Nātūra morbōs ē corpore agit. Nature drives diseases from the body.
69.10 Agite celeriter ut aeger salvus sit. Act quickly so that the patient may be safe.
69.11 Febris aegrōtum graviter agit. The fever severely affects the patient.
69.12 Succus herbārum humōrēs forās agit. The juice of herbs drives the humors out.
69.13 Medicus vītam perīculōsam agit. The physician leads a dangerous life.
69.14 Remedia contrā dolōrem efficāciter agunt. The remedies act effectively against pain.
69.15 Agitur dē salūte pūblicā. Public health is being discussed.
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69.1 Medicus aegrōtum cūrā agit.
69.2 Herbae in corpore bene agunt.
69.3 Pharmacopōla negōtium dīligenter agit.
69.4 Quōmodo hoc medicāmentum agit?
69.5 Vēnae sanguinem ad cor agunt.
69.6 Ēgī multās cūrātiōnēs hodiē.
69.7 Aegrōtus grātiās medicō agit.
69.8 Āctum est dē tuā valētūdine.
69.9 Nātūra morbōs ē corpore agit.
69.10 Agite celeriter ut aeger salvus sit.
69.11 Febris aegrōtum graviter agit.
69.12 Succus herbārum humōrēs forās agit.
69.13 Medicus vītam perīculōsam agit.
69.14 Remedia contrā dolōrem efficāciter agunt.
69.15 Agitur dē salūte pūblicā.
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Agō is a 3rd conjugation verb, one of the most important and versatile verbs in Latin. Understanding its forms and uses is essential for reading medical and pharmaceutical texts.
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agō - I drive, I do, I act (1st person singular present) -
agere - to drive, to do, to act (present infinitive) -
ēgī - I drove, I did, I acted (1st person singular perfect) -
āctum - driven, done, acted (supine/past participle)
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agō - I act/drive -
agis - you act/drive -
agit - he/she/it acts/drives -
agimus - we act/drive -
agitis - you (pl.) act/drive -
agunt - they act/drive
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ēgī - I have acted -
ēgistī - you have acted -
ēgit - he/she/it has acted -
ēgimus - we have acted -
ēgistis - you (pl.) have acted -
ēgērunt - they have acted
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Confusing agō with other verbs: Don't confuse agō (to act) with agō (from adagium - saying) or with the Greek-derived words ending in -agōgus. -
Wrong stem in perfect: Remember the perfect stem is ēg-, not ag-. Students often write *agī instead of ēgī. -
Forgetting the long ā in āctum: The past participle has a long ā, not short a. -
Misunderstanding idiomatic uses: "Grātiās agere" means "to give thanks," not "to drive thanks." -
Passive voice confusion: "Agitur dē" means "it is about/concerning," not "it is being driven about."
Unlike English, where "do" often serves as an auxiliary verb (Do you speak Latin?), Latin agō typically carries full meaning as "act" or "drive." However, both languages use this verb in idiomatic expressions: -
Latin: grātiās agō = I give thanks -
English: How do you do? = How are you?
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Identifying the meaning: Context determines whether agō means "drive," "do," "act," "lead," or "discuss." -
With direct objects of things: usually "drive" or "do" -
With people: often "lead" or "treat" -
With abstract nouns: frequently "conduct" or "perform" -
Understanding compounds: Many medical terms use agō compounds: -
coāgō = co + agō = drive together = coagulate -
reāgō = re + agō = act back = react -
perāgō = per + agō = drive through = complete -
Recognizing passive constructions: -
agitur = it is acted upon/it is done -
āctus est = it has been done -
agendum est = it must be done
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Conjugation: 3rd (-ere verbs) -
Stems: Present (ag-), Perfect (ēg-), Supine (āct-) -
Common constructions: -
grātiās agere (+ dative) = to thank -
vītam agere = to lead a life -
causam agere = to plead a case -
agitur dē (+ ablative) = it concerns, it's about -
Passive uses: Often impersonal in medical texts
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For English speakers learning Latin medical terminology, understanding how Romans conceptualized "action" in medicine provides crucial context. The verb agō permeated Roman medical thinking in ways that still influence modern medical Latin.
The Romans inherited from Greek medicine the concept that health depended on various forces "acting" within the body. They believed: -
Humors (humōrēs) "acted upon" (agēbant in) the body -
Medicines "drove out" (agēbant forās) disease -
The physician "conducted" (agēbat) treatment as a form of leadership
Roman pharmaceutical texts frequently used agō to describe: -
How ingredients should be "driven together" (coāgenda) -
How medicines "act" (agunt) on specific body parts -
The "conducting" (agere) of preparation procedures
The Roman medicus didn't just heal; he "acted" (agēbat) in multiple roles: -
As a counselor "conducting discussions" (agēns sermōnēs) about health -
As a practitioner "driving away" (agēns) disease -
As a social figure "leading a life" (agēns vītam) of service
Medical practice involved "acting" within legal bounds: -
"Agere contrā" (acting against) medical ethics brought penalties -
Physicians could "agere causam" (plead a case) in medical disputes -
The phrase "primum nōn nocēre" (first, do no harm) implicitly involves the concept of action
Understanding these cultural uses helps modern students because: -
Many pharmaceutical terms derive from agō compounds (coagulant, reagent) -
Medical procedures still use "conduct" in English (conducting surgery) -
The active vs. passive voice distinction remains crucial in medical writing
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Febris fever cum when corpus body invadit invades, prīmum first rigōrem shivering agit drives/causes, deinde then calōrem heat nimium excessive efficit produces. Medicus physician autem however nōn not statim immediately medicāmenta medicines dare to give dēbet ought, sed but exspectāre to wait dum until nātūra nature ipsa itself contrā against morbum disease agere to act incipiat begins. Tum then dēmum at last auxilium help ferre to bring et and cum with nātūrā nature agere to act oportet it is proper.
Febris cum corpus invadit, prīmum rigōrem agit, deinde calōrem nimium efficit. Medicus autem nōn statim medicāmenta dare dēbet, sed exspectāre dum nātūra ipsa contrā morbum agere incipiat. Tum dēmum auxilium ferre et cum nātūrā agere oportet.
When fever invades the body, it first causes shivering, then produces excessive heat. The physician, however, ought not give medicines immediately, but wait until nature itself begins to act against the disease. Then at last it is proper to bring help and act together with nature.
This passage from Celsus exemplifies the Roman medical understanding of how both disease and treatment "act" upon the body. The verb agit appears twice, showing different aspects of action: -
The fever "drives" or "causes" (agit) shivering - showing disease as an active force -
Nature must "act" (agere) against disease - presenting the body's healing as action -
The physician must "act with" (cum nātūrā agere) nature - emphasizing cooperative treatment
Celsus's use of agō reveals the Roman conceptualization of medicine as a dynamic interplay of active forces rather than passive states.
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agit (line 1): 3rd person singular present, with febris as subject and rigōrem as direct object -
agere (line 2): present infinitive, complementing incipiat -
agere (line 3): present infinitive, following oportet in an impersonal construction -
Note the parallelism: both nature and physician use the same verb (agere) showing their aligned action -
The temporal sequence (prīmum...deinde...tum dēmum) structures the medical observation
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69.16 Dē concerning modō method quō by which opiāta opiates in in corpore body agunt act disputāmus we discuss
69.17 Papāver poppy somnīferum sleep-bringing mente mind et and dolōrem pain simul simultaneously agit affects
69.18 Medicī physicians antiquī ancient nōn not intellēxērunt understood quōmodo how haec these pharmaca drugs tam so efficāciter effectively agerent might act
69.19 Succus juice papāveris of poppy per through vēnās veins āctus driven ad to cerebrum brain pervenit arrives
69.20 Ubi where cum with receptōribus receptors specificīs specific agit acts et and sēnsūs sensations dolōris of pain minuit diminishes
69.21 Nimia excessive dosis dose respīrātiōnem breathing graviter seriously agit affects et and mortem death adferre to bring potest can
69.22 Ergō therefore medicus physician prūdēns prudent cūrā with care maximā greatest agere to act dēbet ought
69.23 Āctum done est it has been dē concerning perīculīs dangers hūius of this medicāmentī medicine in in conciliō council medicōrum of physicians
69.24 Morphīnum morphine ex from opiō opium extractum extracted celerius more quickly et and fortius more strongly agit acts
69.25 Contrā against dolōrēs pains maximōs greatest nihil nothing melius better agit acts quam than opiāta opiates
69.26 Sed but haec these remedia remedies habitum addiction malum bad agere to create possunt can
69.27 Ēgimus we have conducted multa many experīmenta experiments ut in order to intellegāmus we might understand vim force hōrum of these medicāmentōrum medicines
69.28 Nātūra nature ipsa itself similēs similar substantiās substances in in corpore body agit produces quae which endorphīnae endorphins vocantur are called
69.29 Medicus physician cum with aegrōtō patient agēns dealing omnia all beneficia benefits et and perīcula dangers explicāre to explain dēbet ought
69.30 Agendum to be acted est it is nōbīs by us cum with summā highest prūdentiā prudence in in praescrībendīs prescribing tālibus such medicāmentīs medicines
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69.16 Dē modō quō opiāta in corpore agunt disputāmus. We are discussing the method by which opiates act in the body.
69.17 Papāver somnīferum mentem et dolōrem simul agit. The opium poppy affects both the mind and pain simultaneously.
69.18 Medicī antiquī nōn intellēxērunt quōmodo haec pharmaca tam efficāciter agerent. Ancient physicians did not understand how these drugs might act so effectively.
69.19 Succus papāveris per vēnās āctus ad cerebrum pervenit. The juice of the poppy, driven through the veins, arrives at the brain.
69.20 Ubi cum receptōribus specificīs agit et sēnsūs dolōris minuit. Where it acts with specific receptors and diminishes the sensation of pain.
69.21 Nimia dosis respīrātiōnem graviter agit et mortem adferre potest. An excessive dose seriously affects breathing and can bring death.
69.22 Ergō medicus prūdēns cūrā maximā agere dēbet. Therefore a prudent physician ought to act with the greatest care.
69.23 Āctum est dē perīculīs hūius medicāmentī in conciliō medicōrum. The dangers of this medicine have been discussed in the council of physicians.
69.24 Morphīnum ex opiō extractum celerius et fortius agit. Morphine extracted from opium acts more quickly and strongly.
69.25 Contrā dolōrēs maximōs nihil melius agit quam opiāta. Against the greatest pains nothing acts better than opiates.
69.26 Sed haec remedia habitum malum agere possunt. But these remedies can create a bad addiction.
69.27 Ēgimus multa experīmenta ut intellegāmus vim hōrum medicāmentōrum. We have conducted many experiments in order to understand the power of these medicines.
69.28 Nātūra ipsa similēs substantiās in corpore agit quae endorphīnae vocantur. Nature itself produces similar substances in the body which are called endorphins.
69.29 Medicus cum aegrōtō agēns omnia beneficia et perīcula explicāre dēbet. A physician dealing with a patient ought to explain all benefits and dangers.
69.30 Agendum est nōbīs cum summā prūdentiā in praescrībendīs tālibus medicāmentīs. We must act with the highest prudence in prescribing such medicines.
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69.16 Dē modō quō opiāta in corpore agunt disputāmus.
69.17 Papāver somnīferum mentem et dolōrem simul agit.
69.18 Medicī antiquī nōn intellēxērunt quōmodo haec pharmaca tam efficāciter agerent.
69.19 Succus papāveris per vēnās āctus ad cerebrum pervenit.
69.20 Ubi cum receptōribus specificīs agit et sēnsūs dolōris minuit.
69.21 Nimia dosis respīrātiōnem graviter agit et mortem adferre potest.
69.22 Ergō medicus prūdēns cūrā maximā agere dēbet.
69.23 Āctum est dē perīculīs hūius medicāmentī in conciliō medicōrum.
69.24 Morphīnum ex opiō extractum celerius et fortius agit.
69.25 Contrā dolōrēs maximōs nihil melius agit quam opiāta.
69.26 Sed haec remedia habitum malum agere possunt.
69.27 Ēgimus multa experīmenta ut intellegāmus vim hōrum medicāmentōrum.
69.28 Nātūra ipsa similēs substantiās in corpore agit quae endorphīnae vocantur.
69.29 Medicus cum aegrōtō agēns omnia beneficia et perīcula explicāre dēbet.
69.30 Agendum est nōbīs cum summā prūdentiā in praescrībendīs tālibus medicāmentīs.
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In medical treatises, agō takes on specialized meanings and constructions: -
Transitive Medical Uses: -
"agit dolōrem" = affects pain (69.17) -
"agit respīrātiōnem" = affects breathing (69.21) -
"agit habitum" = creates addiction (69.26) -
Intransitive Medical Uses: -
"in corpore agunt" = they act in the body (69.16) -
"cum receptōribus agit" = acts with receptors (69.20) -
"contrā dolōrēs agit" = acts against pains (69.25) -
Passive Constructions: -
"āctus" = driven/conducted (69.19) -
"āctum est dē" = it has been discussed about (69.23) -
"agendum est" = it must be done (69.30) -
Participle Uses: -
"agēns" = dealing with/treating (69.29) -
"praescrībendīs" (gerundive with in) = in prescribing (69.30) -
Subjunctive Uses: -
"agerent" = they might act (imperfect subjunctive in indirect question) (69.18) -
"intellegāmus" = we might understand (purpose clause) (69.27)
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"vim agere" = to exert force -
"cum aegrōtō agere" = to deal with a patient -
"experīmenta agere" = to conduct experiments -
"cūrā agere" = to act with care
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