agnus 
They will kiss a crucifix, salute a cross, carry most de- 
voutly a scapulary, an yn, or a set uf heads about them. 
Drei'iitt, Saul ami .Samuel at Endor, p. 3:il. 
2. [cap.] In zoijl. : (a) A genus of beetles. 
liitriiicister, 1847. (6) A genus of fishes. GM- 
M<r, I860. Agnus castus (kas'tus). [L., supposed to 
mean 'chaste lamb 1 (hence tr. into G. ATM*,./,/,,,,,,,,), but 
(i(/iin is here only a transliteration of ayi-os, the Greek 
nnnifof the tree, anil L. nmtun, chaste, is aildeil in allusion 
to its imagined virtue of preserving chastity, from the re- 
semblance of the Greek name ayi-os to iyi-65, chaste.) A 
disagreeably aromatic shrub or small tree of the genus 
\'itejc, V. Agnus-castnx, natural ardor Vn-litiiaeeit. Itluis 
digitate leaves and spikes of purplish-blue flowers, and is 
native in the countries around the Mediterranean. Also 
calted chaste-tree ami Abraham' s-batin. 
The hcrbc Aimtis cnxtit/i is always grene, and the flowre 
therof is namly callyd A'tiinx caxtux, for wyth smelle and 
vse it makyth men chaste as a lombe. 
Trevisa, tr. of Barth. Aug. de P. R., xvii. 612. (N. E. D.) 
And wreaths of Aynm-castnx others bore; 
These last, who with those virgin crowns were drest, 
Appear'd in higher honour than the rest. 
Dryiten, Flower and Leaf, 1. 172. 
Agnus Del (del). [LL., Lamb of God.) (a) Any image 
or representation of a lamb as emblematical of Christ; 
Agnus Dei. 
(From the Campanile of Giotto, Florence.) 
specifically, such a representation with the nimbus in- 
scribed with the cross about its head, and supporting the 
banner of the cross. (4) One of the titles of Christ. John 
i. 29. (c) In the Rom. Cath. Ch. : (1) A waxen medallion 
blessed by the pope and stamped with the figure of a lamb 
bearing the banner of the cross. It is worn by Roman 
Catholics as a supplication to be preserved from evil by 
the merits of the Lamb of God. Anciently these cakes of 
wax were often mounted or inclosed in precious metals, 
etc., but this is not now permitted. Relics of the saints 
were sometimes preserved within them. (2) A prayer, be- 
ginning with these words, said by the priest at mass shortly 
before the communion, (a) In the Gr. Ch., the eloth bear- 
ing the figure of a lamb 
which covers the com- 
munion service. Ag- 
nus Scythicus (sith'- 
i-kus), the Scythian or 
Tatarian lamb, a fab- 
ulous creature, half 
animal, half plant, 
formerly believed to 
inhabit the plains bor- 
dering upon the Vol- 
ga; in reality, the 
shaggy rhizome of the 
fern Dicknonia Baro- 
iwtz, which when in- 
verted and suitably 
trimmed somewhat re- 
sembles a small lamb. 
ago, agone (a-go', 
a-gon'), a. and 
adv. [< ME. ago, 
agon, agoon, pp. of agon, < AS. agdn, go away, 
pass away, go forth, come to pass '(= G. ergehen, 
come to pass ; cf. OS. dgangan, go by, = Goth. 
usgaggan, go forth), < a- + gan, go: see a-l and 
go. The form agone is now obsolete or archa- 
ic.] I. a. Gone; gone by; gone away; past; 
passed away : always after the noun. 
Of this world the feyth is all agon. 
Chaucer, Troilus, ii. 410. 
Yonder woman, sir, you must know was the wife of a 
certain learned man . . . who had long dwelt in Amster- 
dam, whence, some good time aynne, he was minded to 
cross over and cast in his lot with us of the Massachusetts. 
Iliiirtliiiriu:, Scarlet Letter, Hi. 
II. adv. In past time; in time gone by: 
only in the phrase long ago. 
O In-other, had yon known our mighty hall, 
\\ Inch Merlin built for Arthur twin </./" ' 
TI'IIIIIHUIII, Holy Grail. 
agog (&-gog'),prep.plir. as adv. or a. [Former- 
ly on gog, OH goggc, perhaps < OF. en gogues : 
" estre en ses gogues, to be frolick, lusty, lively 
wanton, gamesome, all a hoit, in a pleasant 
humour; in a vein of mirth, or in a merry mood" 
(lit. be in his glee), " gogues, jollity, glee, joy- 
fulness, light-heartedness " (Cotgrave), in sing. 
gogue, mirth, glee (Roquefort), "ge goguer, to 
115 
be most frolick, lively, blithe, crank, merry," 
etc. (Cotgrave) ; origin uncertain. The W. gog, 
activity, velocity, gogi, agitate, shake, appear 
to be unoriginal, and may be from E.] In a 
state of eager desire ; highly excited by eager- 
ness or curiosity ; astir. 
Or at the least yt setts the harte n yuyy. Gatcoigne. 
Cotton Mather came galloping down 
All the way to Newbury town, 
With his eyes agog and his ears set wide. 
Whittifr, Double-headed Snake. 
agoggled (a -gog 'Id), a. [< - (expletive) + 
goggled, q. v.] Staring; having staring eyes. 
[Rare.] 
A man a little agogyhd in his eyes. 
A. Leiijhton, Trad. Scot. Life, p. 8. (.V. E. D.) 
agometer (a-gom'e-ter), n. [Irreg. < Gr. ayuv, 
lead, draw, weigh, 4- ftirpov, measure.] A form 
of rheostat. A mercury aijumeter is an instrument for 
measuring electrical resistances, or for varying the re- 
sistance of a circuit, by means of a mercury column whose 
length may be adjusted as required. 
Agomphia (a-gom'fi-a), n. pi. [NL., neut. pi. 
of agomphius : see agbmphious.] A name given 
by Ehrenberg to those rotifers which have tooth- 
less jaws. [Not in use.] 
agomphian (a-gom'fi-an), n. One of the Agom- 
phia. 
agomphiasis (a-gom-fi'a-sis), . [NL., < Gr. 
orarakoc (see agomphious) '+ -iasis.] Looseness 
of the teeth. 
agomphious (a-gom'fi-us), a. [< NL. agomphius, 
< Gr. ayo/i^ofj without grinders, < a- priv. + yo/j- 
0<oc, prop. adj. (sc. Moiif, tooth), a grinder-tooth, 
a molar.] Toothless. N. E. D. 
agon 1 t. An obsolete form of ago. 
agon 2 t (ag'on), n.; pi. agones (a-go'nez). [< Gr. 
ayuv, contest: see agony.] In Gr. antiq., a con- 
test for a prize, whether of athletes in the games 
or of poets, musicians, painters, and the like. 
agone 1 , a. and adv. See ago. 
agone 2 (ag'on), n. [< Gr. ayuvof, without an 
angle, < a- priv. -I- yavia, angle : see goniometer, 
trigonometry, etc.] An agonic line. See agonic. 
agonic (a-gon'ik), a. [< Gr. ayuvoc., without an 
angle: see agone^.] Not forming an angle. 
Agonic line, an irregular line connecting those points on 
the earth's surface where the declination of the magnetic 
needle is zero, that is, where it points to the true north 
and consequently does not form an angle with the geo- 
graphical meridian. There are two principal agonic lines 
one, called the American agone, is in the western hemi- 
sphere, and passes northward through the eastern part 
of Brazil, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Lake Erie and 
British America. The other, called the Asiatic agone, is 
in the eastern hemisphere, and traverses western Australia 
the Indian ocean, Persia, and Russia, toward the magnetic 
north pole. A third agonic line, having the fonn of an 
oval curve, incloses a part of eastern Asia. The agonic 
lines are continually changing their position ; that in the 
eastern United States has been moving slowly westward 
since the beginning of this century. See declination and 
agony 
agonistical (ag-o-nis'ti-kal), a. Same as ago- 
niatic. 
agonistically (ag-o-nis'ti-kal-i), adv. In an 
agonistic manner. [Rare.] 
agonistics (ag-o-uis'tiks), n. [PI. of agonistic : 
see -yes.] The art or science of contending in 
public games or other athletic contests, 
agonizant (ag-o-m'zant), n. [< ML. agoni- 
za(t-)s, ppr. otagonizare: see agonize.] One 
of a Roman Catholic confraternity whose chief 
duty it is to offer prayers for the dying, and 
more especially to assist and pray for criminals 
under sentence of death. 
agonize (ag'o-niz), . ; pret. and pp. agonized, 
ppr. agonizing. [< F. agoniser, < ML. agonizare, 
labor, strive, contend, be at the point of death, 
< Gr. ayuvi&adat, contend for a prize, fight, 
struggle, exert one's self, < ayuv, a contest for 
a prize, etc. See agony, from which the stronger 
sense of agonize is imported.] I. in trans. 1. 
To struggle ; wrestle, as in the arena ; hence, 
to make great effort of any kind. 2. To writhe 
with extreme pain ; suffer violent anguish. 
To smart and agonise at every pore. 
Pope, Essay on Man, i. 198. 
II. trans. To distress with extreme pain; 
torture. 
He agonized his mother by his behaviour. Thackeray. 
Also spelled agonise. 
agonizingly (ag'o-ni-zing-li), adv. In an ago- 
nizing manner; with extreme anguish. Also 
spelled agonisingly. 
Agonqderus (ag-o-nod'e-rus), n. [NL. , < Gr. ayu- 
voc, without angle, + fcp?/, 6upri, neck, throat.] 
A genus of Cara- 
bidce, comprising a 
moderate number 
of species of very 
small or medium- 
sized beetles pecu- 
liar to temperate 
America, it is not 
readily defined either by 
structuralcharacterorby 
general appearance, and 
the smaller species, which 
are of nearly uniform 
light-brown or testaceous 
color, are very difficult 
to distinguish from simi- 
larly colored species of 
Agnus Scythicus 
(DicXsonia Banmttm). 
, 
agonid (a-gon'id), n. One of the fishes form- 
ing the family Agonidce. 
Agonidae (a-gon'i-de), n. pi. [NL., <Agomis 
T -idee.] A family of acanthopterygian fishes, 
exemplified by the genus Agonus. 
Agoninae (ag-o-ni'ne), n. pi. [NL.,< Agonus + 
-mm. ] A subfamily of the Agonidce, having two 
dorsal fins, the spinous being well developed. 
agonise, agonisingly. See agonize, agonizingly. 
agonist (ag'o-nist), n. [< L. agonista. < Gr. 
SvuvHjrfc, contestant, pleader, actor, < ayuvi^c- 
oSai, contend, etc. : see agonize. Cf. antagonist, 
protagonist.] I. One who contends for the 
prize in public games; a combatant; a cham- 
pion ; a dramatic actor. Also called agonigter. 
2. [cap.] One of a violent party of Donatists 
in northern Africa in the fourth century. 
agonistarch (ag-o-nis'tark), n. [< L. agonis- 
tarcha (in an inscription), < Gr. *ayuwoTapxm', 
< a-yavtarfc (see agonist) + & PX eiv, rule, govern.] 
In Gr. antiq., one who trained persons to com- 
pete in public games and contests. 
agonistert (ag'6-nis-ter), . [< agonist + -erl. 
Cf. sophister.] Same as agonist, 1. 
agonistic (ag-o-nis'tik), a. [< ML. agonisticus, 
< Gr. ayuvirjTiKtif, < ayuviarr/c, agonist': see ago- 
nist.] 1. Pertaining to contests of strength or 
athletic combats, or to contests of any kind, as 
a forensic or argumentative contest. 
The silver krater given by Achilles as an agonwtic prize 
at the funeral of I'atroklos, which, as the poet tells us 
was made by the Sidonians, and brought over the sea by 
the Phoenicians. C. T. Xcwtnn, Art and Arclueol., p. 289. 
2. Combative ; polemic ; given to contending. 
Two ronllicting n ; i<uii*tic elements seem to have con- 
tended in the man, sometimes pulling him different ways 
like wild horses. 
Walt Whitman, in Ksxays from The Critic, p. Hi 
3. Strained; aiming at effect; melodramatic. 
N. E. I}. 
commonest species, is 
about a quarter of an inch long, and of a pale-yellowish 
color. Its elytra have a wide black stripe, divided by the 
suture ; the disk of the prothorax is usually marked with a 
large black spot, and the head is always black. Host of 
the species in the United States are extremely abundant 
especially in moist places, and are readily attracted by light. 
Nothing is known of their earlier stages. 
agonoid (ag'o-noid), a. and n. [< Agonus + -aid.] 
I. a. Having the characters of the Agonidae. 
II. n. A fish of the family Agonidce; an agonid. 
agonothete (a-go'no-thet), . [< L. agonothcta 
and agonotlietes, < Gr. aywo6ETrK, < ayuv, contest, 
+ Ti-Se-vat, place, appoint: see theme, thesis, 
etc.] One of the officials who presided over 
public games in ancient Greece and awarded 
the prizes. 
agonothetic (a-go-uo-thet'ik), a. [< Gr. ayavo- 
SeTiKOf, < ayavoOcTT/t; : see agonothete.] Pertain- 
ing to the office of agonothete. 
Agonus (ag'o-nus), . [NL., < Gr. a- priv. + 
y6vv, knee (taken in the sense of ' joint '), = E. 
knee.] A genus of fishes, typical of the family 
Agonidce. Block, 1801. Also called Aspido- 
phorus. A. cataphraetus (Asp. europceus) is the 
sea-poacher or pogge. 
agony (ag'o-ni), n. ; pi. agonies (-niz). [< ME. 
agonie, < OF. agonic, < LL. agonia, < Gr. ayuvla, 
a contest, struggle, agony, orig^. a contest for a 
prize at the public games, < aywv, a contest, 
wrestle, a place of contest, an assembly (see 
agon?), < ayuv, assemble, bring together, lead, 
drive, move, etc., =L. agere: see agent, act, etc. 
Cf. agonize, etc.] 1. A violent contest or strug- 
gle. [Rare.] 
Till he have thus denudated himself of all these incum- 
brances, he is utterly unqualified for these aiit>iiirs. 
Decay of Chriat. Piety, p. 408. 
2. The struggle, frequently unconscious, that 
often precedes natural death : in this sense of- 
ten used in the plural : as, he is in the agonies of 
death. 3. Extreme, and generally prolonged, 
bodily or mental pain; in tense suffering; hence, 
intense mental excitement of any kind : as, the 
agony of suspense or uncertainty. 
A great agony 
Of hope strove in her. 
II'. Mori-iii, Earthly Paradise, II. 316. 
