n. pl. ag·o·nies 1. a. The suffering of intense physical or mental pain: The injured soldier writhed in agony. b. An instance of such suffering: the agonies of adolescence. 2. A sudden or intense emotion: "Jones then fell upon his knees, and kissed her hand in an agony of joy" (Henry Fielding). 3. A violent, intense struggle, especially the struggle that precedes death. [Middle English agonie, from Old French, from Late Latin agōnia, from Greek agōniā, from agōn, struggle, from agein, to drive; see ag- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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