agape

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   with the mouth wide open in wonder; also selfless Christian love

   The children stood agape before the towering waterfall.

In the 'open-mouthed' sense, from a- ('in a state of') + gape, from Old Norse gapa ('to open the mouth'). The distinct 'Christian love' sense is a separate borrowing of Ancient Greek agape ('love, charity').

Topics