Agony
['ægənɪ] or ['æɡəni]
Definition
(noun.) intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain; 'an agony of doubt'; 'the torments of the damned'.
(noun.) a state of acute pain.
Checker: Witt--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) Violent contest or striving.
(n.) Pain so extreme as to cause writhing or contortions of the body, similar to those made in the athletic contests in Greece; and hence, extreme pain of mind or body; anguish; paroxysm of grief; specifically, the sufferings of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane.
(n.) Paroxysm of joy; keen emotion.
(n.) The last struggle of life; death struggle.
Editor: Mary
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Anguish (especially of the body), pang, torture, torment, distress, rack, throe, severe pain, extreme suffering.
Edited by Lilian
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Pain, torture, torment, distress, woe, throe, suffering, pang, excruciation
ANT:Assuagement, comfort, peace, ease, relief, gratification, enjoyment, rapture, ecstasy,composure
Checker: Osbert
Definition
n. a violent struggle: extreme suffering: the death struggle in particular: Christ's anguish in Gethsemane.—v.t. Ag′onise to struggle suffer agony: to subject to agony.—adj. Ag′onising causing agony.—adv. Ag′onisingly.—Agony column the part of a newspaper containing special advertisements as for missing friends and the like.
Typed by Carlyle
Unserious Contents or Definition
This is not as good a dream, as some would wish you to believe. It portends worry and pleasure intermingled, more of the former than of the latter. To be in agony over the loss of money, or property, denotes that disturbing and imaginary fears will rack you over the critical condition of affairs, or the illness of some dear relative. See Weeping.
Checker: Roberta
Examples
- In less than half an hour after Colonel Berkeley's arrival in bounced Lord Deerhurst, in an agony of tears! Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- As he stood in the doorway, the poor old careworn wayworn woman burst into tears, and clasped her hands, as if in a very agony she prayed to him. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- While there was hope, the agony had been unendurable;--all was now concluded; her feelings became solemn and calm. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- And when my only prayer was to be taken off from the rest and when it was such inexplicable agony and misery to be a part of the dreadful thing? Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Oliver felt such fear come over him when he recognised the place, that, for the instant, he forgot the agony of his wound, and thought only of flight. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- She hung over the patient in agony, which was not mitigated when her thoughts wandered towards her babes, for whom she feared infection. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- Even the turning of his head caused him such excruciating agony that he lay still with closed eyes for a long time. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- Her spirit supported her, but the agony of her mind was severe. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- Of course, he was quite dead, and had been so from the instant that he had uttered that last yell of agony. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- In the extremity of agony he shouted upon his servants and allies--Stephen and Saint Maur! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- The poor victim, who on the morrow was to pass the dreary boundary between life and death, felt not as I did, such deep and bitter agony. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly, and exult in the agony of the torturing flames. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- He is however mistaken if he believes I have ever forgotten the agony of that moment. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- The child beat his hand upon his heart; and looked in his companion's face, with tears of real agony. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- At last the agony subsided of itself. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- The agonies of remorse poison the luxury there is otherwise sometimes found in indulging the excess of grief. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- He yielded, but it was with agonies which did not admit of speech. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- Imaginative writers have supposed that he had great spiritual struggles, that he went out into the desert in agonies of doubt and divine desire. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- And so, when the paroxysms came on, each more severe than the last, they were fresh agonies, and greater disappointments to him. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- I go; but when I return, I swear by all the saints that you shall suffer agonies for every word you have uttered to-day. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- The agonies that woman has endured are quite frightful to hear of. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Roderigo rent his chains asunder manfully, and Hugo died in agonies of remorse and arsenic, with a wild, Ha! Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- I thought of the agonies I had gone through in coming from the hotel. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- I shall no longer feel the agonies which now consume me, or be the prey of feelings unsatisfied, yet unquenched. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- His agonies were very severe all this day. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Mr. Wopsle died amiably at Camberwell, and exceedingly game on Bosworth Field, and in the greatest agonies at Glastonbury. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- What do any of you care for the agonies and tortures of a poor forsaken woman? William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Oh, yes, my agonies were frightful, Becky owned, not perhaps without a twinge of conscience. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- I had wanted to compromise with Fate: to escape occasional great agonies by submitting to a whole life of privation and small pains. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- They have decided to carry her with us back to Thark, and exhibit her last agonies at the great games before Tal Hajus, replied Sarkoja. Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars.
Checked by Anita