agony
nounUS, UK /ˈæɡ.ə.ni/ · /ˈeɪ̯ɡ.ə.ni/
Etymology 14th century, via Old French and Latin from Ancient Greek ἀγωνία (agōnía, “emulation, competition, struggle”), from ἀγών (agṓn, “contest”). Specifically of the struggle that precedes death (mortal agony) from the 1540s. By surface analysis, agon + -y. The sense of "extreme pain" from c. 1600.
1
Extreme pain or anguish.
- When the weight fell on her foot, she cried out in agony.
2
Biblical, Lifestyle, Religion The sufferings of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane (often capitalized).
- And being in an agonie, he prayed more earneſtly,[…].1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 22:44, column 1:
3
Dated Violent contest or striving.
- The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations.1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter X, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
4
Dated Paroxysm of joy; keen emotion.
- With cries and agonies of wild delight.1725, Homer, “Book X”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume III, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:
5
The last struggle of life; death struggle.
- Synonyms
- anguish, torment, throe, distress, pang, suffering, agony, anguishment, bereavement, living death, torture
- Derived terms
- agonious, agony aunt, agony auntie, agony aunty, agony box, agony column, agony-pipe, agony uncle
- Related terms
- agon, agonal, agonise, agonist, antagonist, protagonist, agonistes, agonize, agonizing, agonized, sad