agape1
/əˈɡeɪp
/adjective [predicative]
(Of a person’s mouth) wide open in surprise or wonder: Downes listened, mouth agape with incredulity...
- Nero's mouth is slightly agape and odd, gurgling noises come from within.
- In a sudden burst she sat down and gazed at the teacher whose mouth was now agape with shock.
- And they both just stood here with their mouths agape and wondering what had made the bucket spin like that.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from a-2 'on' + gape.
agape2
/ˈaɡəpi/noun [mass noun] Theology
1Christian love, as distinct from erotic love or simple affection.The ancient Greeks made the distinction between eros and agape....
- Jesus' new commandment is that his followers practice love, agape.
- Lewis Ayres says that the distinction between eros and agape does not work for Augustine.
1.1 [count noun] A communal meal held in Christian fellowship.There were songs sang to emphasise the sad mood, then we journeyed on to my grandfather's house for the agape, which is a funeral luncheon....
- This ritual blessing of bread and wine was usually performed within the context of a meal called the agape.
- What a privilege to break the fast with an agape meal a love feast!
Origin
Early 17th century: from Greek agapē 'brotherly love'.
- like a dose of salts
- like a dream
- like a drowned rat
- like a headless chicken
- like a (hot) knife through butter
- like a lamb to the slaughter
- like a leech
- like a man (or woman) possessed
- like a moth to the flame
- like anything
- like a rat up a drainpipe
- like a ripe plum (or ripe plums)
- like a scalded cat
- like a shag on a rock
- like a shot
- like a streak
- like a stunned mullet
- like a ton of bricks
- like blazes
- like blue murder
- like clockwork
- like crazy
- like death warmed up (or over)
- like enough (or most like)
- like father, like son