Langimage
English

agonizingly

|ag-o-niz-ing-ly|

C1

🇺🇸

/ˈæɡəˌnaɪzɪŋli/

🇬🇧

/ˈæɡənaɪzɪŋli/

(agonizing)

intense pain or distress

Base FormNoun
agonizingagony
Etymology
Etymology Information

'agonizingly' originates from the word 'agonize,' which comes from the Greek word 'agōnizesthai,' where 'agōn' meant 'contest' or 'struggle.'

Historical Evolution

'agōnizesthai' transformed into the Latin word 'agonizare,' and eventually became the modern English word 'agonize' through Middle English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'to struggle or compete,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to suffer intense pain or distress.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

in a manner that causes great physical or mental pain.

She waited agonizingly for the test results.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/05/01 14:54