agon-

In a man, a strong preference for lovemaking in which the woman pretends to struggle before giving in or acquiescing to sexual intercourse.

1. Very great mental or physical pain.
2. Death pangs.
3. A convulsive struggle.
4. A sudden, strong outburst (of emotion) as, "an agony of joy".

Word History

It is strange that a word which refers to anguish and intolerable pain should have its origin in a festive sport event; yet, that is the case with agony. In ancient Greece, agon was a public assembly; especially, one for public games and athletic contests.

Agonia was the contest or struggle for a prize. From the meaning "a struggle for victory in the games", agonia gradually broadened to mean any physical struggle, an activity fraught with difficulty or pain, and then mental anguish as well.

Our own English word agony, borrowed from this source, meant struggle or anguish of mind, then the throes (violent pangs of suffering) of death, and then any extreme suffering of body or mind.

1. Hostility or hatred causing opposition and ill will.
2. Opposition between forces or principles.
3. In physiology, the interaction between two or more chemical substances in the body that diminishes the effect each of them has individually.
4. In physiology, the opposing force that usually exists between parts of muscles.

1. One who opposes and contends against another; an adversary.
2. The principal character in opposition to the protagonist of a narrative or drama.
3. Something opposing or resisting the action of another; certain structures, agents, diseases, or physiologic processes that tend to neutralize or impede the action or effect of others.
4. In biochemistry, a chemical substance that interferes with the physiological action of another; especially, by combining with and blocking its nerve receptor.

1. Of the nature of an antagonist; mutually opposed; actively opposed.
2. In physiology, said of the muscles which counteract each other's action.