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agape - 7 dictionary results

a⋅gape

1[uh-geyp, uh-gap]
–adverb, adjective
1. with the mouth wide open, as in wonder, surprise, or eagerness: We stood there agape at the splendor.
2. wide open: his mouth agape.

Origin:
1660–70; a- 1 + gape

a⋅ga⋅pe

2[ah-gah-pey, ah-guh-pey, ag-uh-]
–noun, plural -pae [-pahy, -pahy, -pee] , -pai [-pahy, -pahy] for 3.
1. the love of God or Christ for humankind.
2. the love of Christians for other persons, corresponding to the love of God for humankind.
3. unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications; brotherly love.
4. love feast (defs. 1, 2).

Origin:
1600–10; < Gk agápē love
a·gape 1   (ə-gāp', ə-gāp')   
adv.   & adj.
  1. In a state of wonder or amazement, as with the mouth wide open.
  2. Wide open.
a·ga·pe 2   (ä-gä'pā, ä'gə-pā')   
n.  
  1. Christianity Love as revealed in Jesus, seen as spiritual and selfless and a model for humanity.
  2. Love that is spiritual, not sexual, in its nature.
  3. Christianity In the early Christian Church, the love feast accompanied by Eucharistic celebration.

[Greek agapē, love.]

Agape

A*gape"\, adv. & a. [Pref. a- + gape.] Gaping, as with wonder, expectation, or eager attention.

Dazzles the crowd and sets them all agape. --Milton.

Agape

Ag"a*pe\, n.; pl. Agap[ae]. [Gr. 'aga`ph love, pl. 'aga`pai.] The love feast of the primitive Christians, being a meal partaken of in connection with the communion.

agape 
1607, from Gk. agapan "greet with affection, love" (used by early Christians for their "love feast" held in connection with the Lord's Supper), from agapan "to love," of unknown origin. In modern use, often in simpler sense of "Christian love" (1856, frequently opposed to eros as "carnal or sensual love").
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