Library / English Dictionary

AGONISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Suffer agony or anguish

Synonyms:

agonise; agonize

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "agonise" is one way to...):

suffer (experience (emotional) pain)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

agony (intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain)

agony (a state of acute pain)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to agonize

Synonyms:

agonise; agonize

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "agonise" is one way to...):

anguish; hurt; pain (cause emotional anguish or make miserable)

Cause:

agonise; agonize (suffer agony or anguish)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will agonise him

Derivation:

agony (intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain)

agony (a state of acute pain)

Credits

 Context examples: 

As I sat I heard a sound in the courtyard without—the agonised cry of a woman.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road—a long, agonised wailing, as if from fear.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Henceforth no effort of mine, no piteous cry or agonised entreaty, would make them even look at me.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

"Go on; go on! Speak, I command you!" said Van Helsing in an agonised voice.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I seem to remember that once the West Lighthouse was right under me, and then there was a sort of agonising feeling, as if I were in an earthquake, and I came back and found you shaking my body.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He felt her heart, and after a few moments of agonising suspense said:—"It is not too late. It beats, though but feebly. All our work is undone; we must begin again. There is no young Arthur here now; I have to call on you yourself this time, friend John."

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

The silence finally became agonising.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It seemed, however, that his poor injured brain had been working in the interval, for, when he was quite conscious, he looked at me piercingly with an agonised confusion which I shall never forget, and said:—"I must not deceive myself; it was no dream, but all a grim reality."

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)