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Agony

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means extreme suffering

Where does the word "agony" come from? It comes from Greek agōnia, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

agōnia→agonie→agony

Greek · ancient

"struggle for victory"

Greek, from 'agōn', contest

Old French · medieval

came via Late Latin 'agonia'

English · 1300s

"mental anguish"

first recorded around 1384 in the Wycliffite Bible, for Christ's agony in the garden of Gethsemane; 'agony aunt' dates from the 1970s

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Agony’s story begins in Greek: agōnia meant “struggle for victory.” Greek, from 'agōn', contest. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as agonie. Came via Late Latin 'agonia'. It reached English by 1300s as agony. First recorded around 1384 in the Wycliffite Bible, for Christ's agony in the garden of Gethsemane; 'agony aunt' dates from the 1970s. Today, agony means extreme suffering.