aˈgend
Pl. agends (obs. or arch.), agenda (əˈdʒɛndə).
[ad. L. agendum that which is to be done; gerundive of agĕre to do. The Eng. forms agend, agends are now apparently obs.; for the former the L. agendum occurs, but the only part in ordinary use is the pl. agenda.]
1. gen. in pl. Things to be done; matters of practice, as distinguished from matters of belief.
| 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v., Divines speak of the agenda of a christian, meaning the things to be practised by way of contradistinction from credenda or the things to be believed. 1860 Maury Phys. Geog. Sea i. §67 Notwithstanding all that has been done.. there still remain many agenda. |
† 2. Matters of ecclesiastical practice or ritual. Obs.
| 1629 Andrewes Answ. Cdl. Perron 1 (L.) It is the Agend of the Church, he should have held him to. 1642 Wilcocks Eng. Prot. Apol. 34 (T.) For the matter of our worship, our credends, our agends, are all according to the rule. 1775 Ash, Agenda, the service of the church. |
3. The items of business to be considered at a meeting.
| 1882 Pall Mall G. 16 Sept. 3 The most important item in the agenda is to discuss the amendment of the Employers' Liability Act. |
4. collect. sing. A memorandum book. (Cf. Fr. agenda.)
| 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Agenda is also used for a book containing notes, or memorandums of things necessary to be done. 1875 Poste Gaius ii. (ed. 2) 300 Codicillus denotes..a pocket-book, an agenda. |