ag·o·nized

[ag-uh-nahyzd]
adjective
involving or accompanied by agony or severe struggle: an agonized effort.

Origin:
1575–85; agonize + -ed2

ag·o·niz·ed·ly [ag-uh-nahy-zid-lee] , adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged

ag·o·nize

[ag-uh-nahyz] verb, ag·o·nized, ag·o·niz·ing.
verb (used without object)
1.
to suffer extreme pain or anguish; be in agony.
2.
to put forth great effort of any kind.
verb (used with object)
3.
to distress with extreme pain; torture.
Also, especially British, ag·o·nise.


Origin:
1575–85; < Medieval Latin agōnizāre < Greek agōnízesthai to struggle (for a prize), equivalent to agōn- agon + -izesthai -ize

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To agonized
00:10
Agonized is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
Collins
World English Dictionary
agonize or agonise (ˈæɡəˌnaɪz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to suffer or cause to suffer agony
2.  (intr) to make a desperate effort; struggle; strive
 
[C16: via Medieval Latin from Greek agōnizesthai to contend for a prize, from agōnagon]
 
agonise or agonise
 
vb
 
[C16: via Medieval Latin from Greek agōnizesthai to contend for a prize, from agōnagon]
 
'agonizingly or agonise
 
adv
 
'agonisingly or agonise
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

agonize
1580s, "to torture," from M.L. agonizare, from Gk. agonizesthai "to contend in the struggle" (see agony). Intrans. sense of "to suffer physical pain" is recorded from 1660s. That of "to worry intensely" is from 1853.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
With blanched cheeks and agonized eyes and dauntless resolution, she insisted
  on accompanying the seekers.
The general agonized over what to do, knowing that so many lives were at stake.
Where the former film is agonized and sullen, the latter is mischievous and
  restive, daring us to be dismayed by its insolence.
He agonized over many things for years-and often made decisions that had
  unfortunate outcomes.
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