ag·o·nize (ăg'ə-nīz')

v., -nized, -niz·ing, -niz·es.

v.intr.

1. To suffer extreme pain or great anguish.
2. To make a great effort; struggle.

v.tr.
To cause great pain or anguish to. See synonyms at afflict.

[Medieval Latin agōnizāre, from Greek agōnizesthai, to struggle, from agōn, contest. See agony.]

agonizingly ag'o·niz'ing·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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