Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Late Latin
Origin: agonia, from Greek, 'trouble, great anxiety', from agon 'competition for a prize'

agony

 noun
     
ag‧o‧ny plural agonies [uncountable and countable]
1 very severe pain:
the agony of arthritis
in agony
I was in agony.
He groaned in agony.
2 a very sad, difficult, or unpleasant experience:
It was agony not knowing if she would live.
agony of
He was in agonies of remorse.

➔ pile on the pressure/agony

at pile on (2)

; ➔ prolong the agony

at prolong (2)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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