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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary ag·o·ny \\ˈa-gə-nē\\ noun ( plural -nies) ETYMOLOGY Middle English agonie, from Late Latin agonia, from Greek agōnia struggle, anguish, from agōn gathering, contest for a prize, from agein to lead, celebrate — more at agent
DATE 14th century
1. a. intense pain of mind or body : anguish , torture b. the struggle that precedes death2. a violent struggle or contest3. a strong sudden display (as of joy or delight) : outburst Synonyms: see distress
agony
late 14c., "mental suffering" (esp. that of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane), from L.L. agonia, from Gk. agonia "a (mental) struggle for victory," originally "a struggle for victory in the games," from agon"assembly for a contest," from agein "to lead" (see act). Sense of "extreme bodily suffering" first recorded c.1600.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishagony
noun ADJ. extreme, intense | absolute, pure, sheer | exquisite | mental, physical | death The little creature squirmed in its death agonies. VERB + AGONY endure, go through, suffer He endured agonies of loneliness and misery. They went through agony in the search for their missing relatives. | cause, inflict She was causing David a great deal of agony. | prolong Don't prolong the agony?just tell me the result! | groan in, scream in | be contorted in, writhe in His face was contorted in agony as he tried to lift himself out of the chair. PREP. in ~ The soldier died in agony. | in an ~ of She mumbled an apology in an agony of embarrassment. PHRASES a groan/scream of agony Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 agonyagony / 5A^Eni / noun(pl. -ies) [U, C] extreme physical or mental pain (精神或肉体的)极度痛苦: Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。 It was agony not knowing where the children were. 孩子们下落不明真让人揪心。 She waited in an agony of suspense. 她在悬念的煎熬中等待着。 The worst agonies of the war were now beginning. 战争最深重的苦难现在开始了。 Tell me now! Don't prolong the agony (= make it last longer). 现在就告诉我吧！别再要我心急如焚。 IDIOMS ⇨ see pile v.
agony noun
⇨ distress (an agony of suspense) ⇨ pain (collapse in agony) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged Search result show the entry is found in: agony aunt , or agony column
ag·o·ny\ˈagənē, ˈaig-, -ni\ noun( -es) Etymology: Middle English agonie, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French agonie, from Late Latin agonia, from Greek agōnia contest, struggle, anguish, from agōn gathering, assembly at games, contest for a prize, from agein to lead, celebrate — more at agent 1. a. : intense pain of mind or spirit : extreme distress : anguish < the agony of being found wanting and exposed to the disapproval of others — Margaret Mead > b. often capitalized : the sufferings of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane < and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly — Lk 22:44 (Authorized Version) >2. a. : intense pain of body : extreme torment : torture < left arm twisted upward behind him … in slow, deliberate agony — Kay Boyle > b. : the throes of death : death struggle < his final agony >3. : a violent struggle, conflict, or contest < the world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations — T.B.Macaulay >4. : a strong sudden and often uncontrollable display (as of joy or delight) : outburst < my cousin … in an agony of mirth — Edith Wharton >Synonyms: see distress
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