*agon*

a. & adv. Ago. [ Archaic & Poet. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Three days agone I fell sick. 1 Sam. xxx. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Agonic. ] Agonic line. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; without angles; 'a priv. + &unr_; an angle. ] Not forming an angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Agonic line (Physics), an imaginary line on the earth's surface passing through those places where the magnetic needle points to the true north; the line of no magnetic variation. There is one such line in the Western hemisphere, and another in the Eastern hemisphere. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to contend for a prize, fr. &unr_;. See Agon. ] Contention for a prize; a contest. [ Obs. ] Blount. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] One who contends for the prize in public games. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;. See Agonism. ] Pertaining to violent contests, bodily or mental; pertaining to athletic or polemic feats; athletic; combative; hence, strained; unnatural. [ 1913 Webster ]

As a scholar, he [ Dr. Parr ] was brilliant, but he consumed his power in agonistic displays. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an agonistic manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The science of athletic combats, or contests in public games. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Agonized p. pr. & vb. n. Agonizing ] [ F. agoniser, LL. agonizare, fr. Gr. &unr_;. See Agony. ] 1. To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish. [ 1913 Webster ]

To smart and agonize at every pore. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To struggle; to wrestle; to strive desperately. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to suffer agony; to subject to extreme pain; to torture. [ 1913 Webster ]

He agonized his mother by his behavior. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. expressing pain or agony. agonized screams [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adj. causing agony. Opposite to painless.
Syn. -- excruciating, harrowing, torturing, torturous, torturesome. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adv. With extreme anguish or desperate struggles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; + &unr_; to set. appoint. ] [ Antiq. ] An officer who presided over the great public games in Greece. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] Pertaining to the office of an agonothete. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Agonies [ L. agonia, Gr. &unr_;, orig. a contest, fr. &unr_;: cf. F. agonie. See Agon. ] 1. Violent contest or striving. [ 1913 Webster ]

The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pain so extreme as to cause writhing or contortions of the body, similar to those made in the athletic contests in Greece; and hence, extreme pain of mind or body; anguish; paroxysm of grief; specifically, the sufferings of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane. [ 1913 Webster ]

Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly. Luke xxii. 44. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Paroxysm of joy; keen emotion. [ 1913 Webster ]

With cries and agonies of wild delight. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The last struggle of life; death struggle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Anguish; torment; throe; distress; pangs; suffering. -- Agony, Anguish, Pang. These words agree in expressing extreme pain of body or mind. Agony denotes acute and permanent pain, usually of the whole system., and often producing contortions. Anguish denotes severe pressure, and, considered as bodily suffering, is more commonly local (as anguish of a wound), thus differing from agony. A pang is a paroxysm of excruciating pain. It is severe and transient. The agonies or pangs of remorse; the anguish of a wounded conscience. “Oh, sharp convulsive pangs of agonizing pride!” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'antagw`nisma, fr. 'antagwni`zesqai to struggle against; 'anti` against + 'agwni`zesqai to contend or struggle, 'agw`n contest: cf. F. antagonisme. See Agony. ] Opposition of action; counteraction or contrariety of things or principles. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ We speak of antagonism between two things, to or against a thing, and sometimes with a thing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Antagonistic; opposing; counteracting; as, antagonist schools of philosophy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. antagonista, Gr. 'antagwnisth`s; 'anti` against + 'agwnisth`s combatant, champion, fr. 'agwni`zesqai: cf. F. antagoniste. See Antagonism. ] 1. One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; an opponent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our antagonists in these controversies. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) A muscle which acts in opposition to another; as a flexor, which bends a part, is the antagonist of an extensor, which extends it. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) A substance which opposes the actions of another substance in the body, especially a drgu that counteracts the effects of another drug. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

Syn. -- Adversary; enemy; opponent; foe; competitor. See Adversary. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Opposing in combat, combating; contending or acting against; as, antagonistic forces. -- An*tag`o*nis"tic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

They were distinct, adverse, even antagonistic. Milman. [1913 Webster]

n. 1. muscles having opposite effects; the contraction of one neutralizes the contraction of the other.
Syn. -- antagonistic muscles. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Antagonized p. pr. & vb. n. Antagonozing. ] [ Gr. &unr_;. See Antagonism. ] To contend with; to oppose actively; to counteract. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To act in opposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; 'anti` + &unr_; contest: cf. F. (16th century) antagonie. See Antagonism. ] Contest; opposition; antagonism. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Antagony that is between Christ and Belial. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Aragon, in Spain, or to its inhabitants. -- n. sing. & pl. A native or natives of Aragon, in Spain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Aragon, in Spain. ] (Min.) A mineral composed of calcium carbonate and identical in composition with calcite, but differing from it in its crystalline form and some of its physical characters. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Aragonite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A popular trend that attracts growing support. “when they saw how things were going everybody jumped on the bandwagon.” [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A large ornate wagon for carrying a musical band. “the bandwagon led the circus parade” [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. brachy`s short + E. diagonal. ] Pertaining to the shorter diagonal, as of a rhombic prism. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brachydiagonal axis, the shorter lateral axis of an orthorhombic crystal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The shorter of the diagonals in a rhombic prism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; chi`lioi a thousand + &unr_; angle. ] A plane figure of a thousand angles and sides. Barlow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. kli`nein to incline + E. diagonal. ] (Crystallog.) That diagonal or lateral axis in a monoclinic crystal which makes an oblique angle with the vertical axis. See Crystallization. -- a. Pertaining to, or the direction of, the clinodiagonal. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or . [ From Conestoga, Pennsylvania. ] A kind of large broad-wheeled wagon, usually covered, for traveling in soft soil and on prairies. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

[ Heb. Dāgon, fr. dag a fish: cf. Gr. Dagw`n. ] The national god of the Philistines, represented with the face and hands and upper part of a man, and the tail of a fish. W. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

This day a solemn feast the people hold
To Dagon, their sea idol. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

They brought it into the house of Dagon. 1 Sam. v. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Dag a loose end. ] A slip or piece. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. deca- + Gr. &unr_; a corner or angle: cf. F. décagone. ] (Geom.) A plane figure having ten sides and ten angles; any figure having ten angles. A regular decagon is one that has all its sides and angles equal. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to a decagon; having ten sides.

a. [ L. diagonalis, fr. Gr. &unr_; from to angle; dia` through + &unr_; an angle; perh. akin to E. knee: cf. F. diagonal. ] (Geom.) Joining two not adjacent angles of a quadrilateral or multilateral figure; running across from corner to corner; crossing at an angle with one of the sides. [ 1913 Webster ]

Diagonal bond (Masonry), herringbone work. See Herringbone, a. --
Diagonal built (Shipbuilding), built by forming the outer skin of two layers of planking, making angles of about 45° with the keel, in opposite directions. --
Diagonal cleavage. See under Cleavage. --
Diagonal molding (Arch.), a chevron or zigzag molding. --
Diagonal rib. (Arch.) See Cross-springer. --
Diagonal scale, a scale which consists of a set of parallel lines, with other lines crossing them obliquely, so that their intersections furnish smaller subdivisions of the unit of measure than could be conveniently marked on a plain scale. --
Diagonal stratification. (Geol.) Same as Cross bedding, under Cross, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A right line drawn from one angle to another not adjacent, of a figure of four or more sides, and dividing it into two parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Engin.) A member, in a framed structure, running obliquely across a panel. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A diagonal cloth; a kind of cloth having diagonal stripes, ridges, or welts made in the weaving. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. (Math.) able to be diagonalized; -- of a matrix. [ PJC ]

v. t. (Math.) to transform a matrix to a diagonal matrix. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adv. In a diagonal direction. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Diagonal; diametrical; hence; diametrically opposed. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Sin can have no tenure by law at all, but is rather an eternal outlaw, and in hostility with law past all atonement; both diagonal contraries, as much allowing one another as day and night together in one hemisphere. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. di- + hexagonal. ] (a) Consisting of two hexagonal parts united; thus, a dihexagonal pyramid is composed of two hexagonal pyramids placed base to base. (b) Having twelve similar faces; as, a dihexagonal prism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; twelve + &unr_; angle: cf. F. dodécagone. ] (Geom.) A figure or polygon bounded by twelve sides and containing twelve angles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. dragon, L. draco, fr. Gr. dra`kwn, prob. fr. de`rkesqai, dra`kein, to look (akin to Skr. darç to see), and so called from its terrible eyes. Cf. Drake a dragon, Dragoon. ] 1. (Myth.) A fabulous animal, generally represented as a monstrous winged serpent or lizard, with a crested head and enormous claws, and regarded as very powerful and ferocious. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dragons which appear in early paintings and sculptures are invariably representations of a winged crocodile. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In Scripture the term dragon refers to any great monster, whether of the land or sea, usually to some kind of serpent or reptile, sometimes to land serpents of a powerful and deadly kind. It is also applied metaphorically to Satan. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou breakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Ps. lxxiv. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Ps. xci. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. Rev. xx. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fierce, violent person, esp. a woman. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) A constellation of the northern hemisphere figured as a dragon; Draco. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A luminous exhalation from marshy grounds, seeming to move through the air as a winged serpent. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mil. Antiq.) A short musket hooked to a swivel attached to a soldier's belt; -- so called from a representation of a dragon's head at the muzzle. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) A small arboreal lizard of the genus Draco, of several species, found in the East Indies and Southern Asia. Five or six of the hind ribs, on each side, are prolonged and covered with weblike skin, forming a sort of wing. These prolongations aid them in making long leaps from tree to tree. Called also flying lizard. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Zool.) A variety of carrier pigeon. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Her.) A fabulous winged creature, sometimes borne as a charge in a coat of arms. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Dragon is often used adjectively, or in combination, in the sense of relating to, resembling, or characteristic of, a dragon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dragon arum (Bot.), the name of several species of Arisæma, a genus of plants having a spathe and spadix. See Dragon root(below). --
Dragon fish (Zool.), the dragonet. --
Dragon fly (Zool.), any insect of the family Libellulidæ. They have finely formed, large and strongly reticulated wings, a large head with enormous eyes, and a long body; -- called also mosquito hawks. Their larvæ are aquatic and insectivorous. --
Dragon root (Bot.), an American aroid plant (Arisæma Dracontium); green dragon. --
Dragon's blood, a resinous substance obtained from the fruit of several species of Calamus, esp. from Calamus Rotang and Calamus Draco, growing in the East Indies. A substance known as dragon's blood is obtained by exudation from Dracæna Draco; also from Pterocarpus Draco, a tree of the West Indies and South America. The color is red, or a dark brownish red, and it is used chiefly for coloring varnishes, marbles, etc. Called also Cinnabar Græcorum. --
Dragon's head. (a) (Bot.) A plant of several species of the genus Dracocephalum. They are perennial herbs closely allied to the common catnip. (b) (Astron.) The ascending node of a planet, indicated, chiefly in almanacs, by the symbol &unr_;. The deviation from the ecliptic made by a planet in passing from one node to the other seems, according to the fancy of some, to make a figure like that of a dragon, whose belly is where there is the greatest latitude; the intersections representing the head and tail; -- from which resemblance the denomination arises. Encyc. Brit. --
Dragon shell (Zool.), a species of limpet. --
Dragon's skin, fossil stems whose leaf scars somewhat resemble the scales of reptiles; -- a name used by miners and quarrymen. Stormonth. --
Dragon's tail (Astron.), the descending node of a planet, indicated by the symbol &unr_;. See Dragon's head (above). --
Dragon's wort (Bot.), a plant of the genus Artemisia (Artemisia dracunculus). --
Dragon tree (Bot.), a West African liliaceous tree (Dracæna Draco), yielding one of the resins called dragon's blood. See Dracæna. --
Dragon water, a medicinal remedy very popular in the earlier half of the 17th century. “Dragon water may do good upon him.” Randolph (1640). --
Flying dragon, a large meteoric fireball; a bolide. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A little dragon. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A small British marine fish (Callionymuslyra); -- called also yellow sculpin, fox, and gowdie. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. resembling a dragon. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]