ag|o|ny

ag|o|ny «AG uh nee», noun, plural -nies.

1. a) very great suffering of body or mind: »

Nobody can stand for long the agony of a severe toothache.

SYNONYM(S): torment. b) Figurative. very great suffering of mind; extreme mental pain or suffering: »

The loss of her husband filled her with agony.

SYNONYM(S): torment, woe.

2. a sudden, powerful emotion: »

With cries and agonies of wild delight… (Alexander Pope).

3. Often, agonies. the struggle often preceding death: »

the agonies of death, mortal agony.

4. a struggle, especially one involving a crisis: »

the agony of war.

╂[< Late Latin agōnia < Greek agōníā a struggle < agōn contest, assembly < ágein to conduct, celebrate]

Usage Agony is often used in informal English in a light vein in such expressions as: »

My shoes hurt; I'm in agony. I have to do my Latin sometime; I might as well get the agony over now.