agˈonist noun

1. In ancient Greece, a competitor in public games
2. Someone engaged in a struggle, whether physical or spiritual (rare)
3. A chief character in a literary work
4. (in the following senses, a back-formation from antagonist) a muscle whose action is opposed by another action (the antagonist)
5. A chemical substance (eg a drug) which produces an observable inhibitory or excitatory response in a body tissue (eg a muscle or nerve)

agonistes /a-gon-isˈtēz/ noun

Someone in the grip of inner conflict

agonisˈtic adjective

1. Of or relating to a chemical agonist
2. Of or relating to a broad class of behaviour patterns including attack, threat, appeasement and flight
3. (also agonistˈical) relating to athletic contests
4. Combative

agonistˈically adverb

agonistˈics singular noun (archaic)

The art and theory of games and prize-fighting

agˈonize or agˈonise intransitive verb

1. To struggle or contend
2. To suffer agony
3. To worry intensely (informal)

To subject to agony

agˈonized or agˈonised adjective

Suffering or expressing anguish

agˈonizedly or agˈonisedly /-īz-id-li/ adverb

agˈonizing or agˈonising adjective

1. Causing agony
2. Intensely painful

agˈonizingly or agˈonisingly adverb

agony aunt noun

1. (sometimes with caps) a person, usu a woman, who gives advice in an agony column or in a radio or television programme of similar nature
2. Any female adviser (informal)

agony column noun

1. The part of a newspaper or magazine in which readers submit, and receive advice about, personal problems
2. The part of a newspaper containing special advertisements, eg for missing friends, etc

agony uncle noun