agony

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Extreme pain.

   When the weight fell on her foot, she cried out in agony.

2. 2
   noun

   The sufferings of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane (often capitalized).

   And being in an agonie, he prayed more earneſtly,[…].

3. 3
   noun

   Violent contest or striving.

   The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations.

4. 4
   noun

   Paroxysm of joy; keen emotion.

   With cries and agonies of wild delight.

5. 5
   noun

   intense feelings of suffering

6. 6
   noun

   a state of acute pain

7. 7
   noun

   The last struggle of life; death struggle.

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.