gl 
i 
agony 
A solitary shriek, the bubbling cry 
Of some strong swimmer in his agony. 
Byron, Don Juan, ii. 53. 
Continued agony is followed by exhaustion, which in fee- 
ble persons may be fatal. H. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., $ 29. 
4. In a special sense, the sufferings of Christ in 
the garden of Gethsemaue Agony column, the 
column of a newspaper which contains advertisements 
relating to lost relatives and friends ami other personal 
matters : so called from the apparent distress uf the adver- 
tisers. [English, and chiefly in London. ] = Syn, 3. Agony, 
Anguish, Pang, Torture, Torment, throe, paroxysm, ache. 
These all denote forms of excruciating pain of the body 
or the mind. Agony is pain so extreme as to cause strug- 
ling; it is general rather than local pain. Anguish is, 
n the body, commonly local, as the anguish of amputa- 
tion, and transient. Pang is brief and intermittent ; it 
is a paroxysm, spasm, throe, thrill, ur throb of pain ; in 
the mind there may be the ixings of remembrance, etc., 
and in the body the pangs of hunger, etc. The agonies or 
pangs of dissolution ; the anguish of a fresh bereavement. 
Torture and torment are by derivation pains that seem to 
wrench or rack the body or mind ; they are the most power- 
ful of these words. Torment expresses a more permanent 
state than tort ure. See pain. 
The octopus had seized his left arm, causing dreadful 
agony by the fastening of its suckers upon the limb. 
P. Robinson, Under the Sun, vll. 
One fire burns out another's burning, 
One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish. 
Shak., R. and J., i. 2. 
That last glance of love which becomes the sharpest 
pany of sorrow. Oeorge Eliot, Daniel Deronda, xliii. 
Suspense in news is torture ; speak them out. 
Milton, S. A., 1. 1569. 
O, that tonnent should not l>e confined 
To the body's wounds and sores ! 
Milton, S. A., 1. 806. 
agoodt (a-gud'), prep. phr. as adv. [< a 3 , on, 
in, + good. Cf. the phrase in good earnest. J In 
earnest; heartily. 
I made her weep a-good. Shak,, T. O. of V., Iv. 4. 
The world laughed agood at these jests. 
Armin, Nest of Ninnies, 1608. (llalliwell.) 
agora (ag'o-ra), n. [< Gr. ayopd, assembly, mar- 
ket-place, < ayeipctv, call together, assemble.] 
In ancient Greece : (a) A popular political as- 
sembly ; any meeting of the people, especially 
for the promulgation or discussion of laws or 
public measures. Hence (6) The chief pub- 
lic square and market-place of a town, in wnich 
such meetings were originally held, correspond- 
ing to the Eoman forum. The agora usually occu- 
pied the site about the original public fountain or well of 
a settlement, which was the natural place of reunion for 
the inhabitants. It was often surrounded by colonnades 
and public buildings ; sometimes public buildings and 
temples stood within it. In some instances a large open 
space was reserved for public meetings, and the remain- 
der was variously subdivided for purposes of traffic. It 
was customary to erect in the agora altars to the gods 
and statues of heroes and others, and sometimes, as at 
Athens, it was adorned with alleys of trees. 
agoranome (ag'o-ra-nom*), n. [< L. agorano- 
MM*,< Gr. dyopav6ftof, clerk of the market, < ayopd, 
market, + vifieiv, manage, rule.] One of those 
magistrates in a Greek city who had charge of 
the inspection of the markets, of weights and 
measures, and of public health. Their func- 
tions corresponded to those of the Roman 
ediles. 
agoraphobia (ag'o-ra-fo'bi-a), n. [< Gr. ayopd, 
market-place (see agora), + -0o/3<o, fear : see 
-phobia.] In pathol., a dread of crossing open 
spaces, such as open squares, city parks, etc. : 
a feature of some cases of neurasthenia. 
agostadero (a-go-sta-da'ro), . [Sp., a sum- 
mer pasture, < agostar, pasture cattle on stub- 
ble in summer, dial, plow in August, < Agosto, 
August, harvest-time, harvest.] A place for 
pasturing cattle. [Used in parts of the United 
States settled by Spaniards.] 
agouara (a-go-a'ra), n. [Native name in South 
America.] A species of racoon, Proeyon ean- 
crivorus, about the size of a fox. it is a native of 
the warmer parts of America, and eats all kinds of crus- 
taceans and mollusks, marine and terrestrial ; from this 
habit it is also called the crab-eating racoon. 
agoumenos (a-g6'me-nos), n. Same as hegu- 
menos. 
116 
family Solenodontida;. It is so puzzling to natural- 
ists that it has received the name of S. paradoxus. It has 
the fur, ears, and tail of the opossum, but the teetli and 
elongated nose of the shrew. Its feet terminate in five 
toes, and the long claws are curved and evidently adapted 
for scraping in the earth. The dentition is unique, tin- 
grooving of the second incisor of the lower jaw distinguish- 
ing this genus from all others whose dental system is 
known. It is of the size of a rat, and not unlike one in 
general appearance. See aliniqui and Solenodon. 
agouti (a-go'ti), n. [<F. agouti, acouti, < Sp. 
aguti, < aguti, acuti, the native Amer. name.] 
Agouti (Datyprocta agouti}. 
The American name of several species of rodent 
mammals of the genus Dasyprocta and family 
Dasyproctidat. The common agouti, or yellow-rumped 
cavy, D. agouti, is of the size of a rabbit. The upper part 
of the body is brownish, with a mixture of red and black ; 
the belly yellowish. Three varieties are mentioned, all 
peculiar to South America and the West Indies. It bur- 
rows in the ground or in hollow trees, lives on vegetables, 
doing much injury to the sugar-cane, is as voracious as a 
pig, and makes a similar grunting noise. It holds its food 
in its fore paws, like a squirrel. When scared or angry 
Its hair becomes erect, and it strikes the ground with its 
hind feet. Its flesh is white and of agreeable taste, and 
the animal is pursued as game in Brazil. Also spelled 
aguti and agouty. See acouchy and Dasyprocta. 
agracet, v. t. ' See aggrace. 
agraffe (a-graf), n. [Also, as a historical 
term, agrappe, aggrappe; < F. agrafe, formerly 
agraffe, "agraphe, a clasp, hook, brace, grap- 
ple, nasp" (Cotgrave), also 'agrappe (Walloon 
agrap), < a- + grappe, < ML. grappa, < OHG. 
chrapfo, Gr. Jcrapfe, a hook : see grape, grapple. ] 
1 . A clasp or hook, used in armor or in ordinary 
costume, fastening in the same manner as the 
modern hook and eye, often made into a large 
and rich ornament by concealing the hook itself 
beneath a jeweled, engraved, embossed, or en- 
Agouta (Solenodon faradoxus). 
agouta (a-go'ta), n. [Native name.] An in- 
sectivorous mammal peculiar to Hayti, the 
type-member of the genus Solenodon and of the 
Agraffe 13th century. 
The plate is in two parts; a hook behind the left-hand piece enters 
a ring behind the other. (From Viollet-le-Duc's " Diet, du Mobilier 
fran^ais.") 
ameled plate: as, "an agraffe set with bril- 
liants," Scott, Ivanhoe. Also agrappe, fermail. 
Amongst the treasures is the Crowne of Charlemagne, 
his 7 foote high scepter and hand of justice, the agraffe of 
his royall mantle beset with diamonds and rubies, his 
sword, belt and spurrs of gold. 
Evelyn, Diary, Nov. 12, 1643. 
2. A device for preventing the vibration of 
that part of a piano-string which is between 
the pin and the bridge. 3. A small cramp- 
iron used by builders. 
agrammatism (a-gram'a-tizm), n. [< Gr. 
aypd/i[iaTo<;, without learning (< a- priv. + ypd/i- 
fta(r-), a letter), + -ism.'] In pathol., inability 
to form a grammatical sentence. 
agramrnatistt (a-gram'a-tist), n. [As agram- 
mat-iym + -ist.~\ An illiterate person. Bailey. 
agraphia (a-graf'i-a), . [NL., < Gr. a- priv. 
+ -ypaifiia, < ypdpetv, write.] A form of cere- 
bral disorder in which there is a partial or total 
loss of the power of expressing ideas by written 
symbols. 
agree 
agraphic (a-graf 'ik), o. Pertaining to or char- 
acterized by agraphia. 
agrappe (a-grap'), " Same as agraffe, 1. 
agrarian (a-gra'ri-an), a. and n. [< L. agra- 
rian, < ager, field, country, land, = E. acre, q. v. ; 
(igrnrite legen, laws relating to the division of 
the public lands among the poorer citizens; 
ni/riirii, n. pi., those who favored such laws.] 
1. a. 1. Relating to lands, especially public 
lands ; pertaining to the equal or uniform divi- 
sion of land. 
His grace's landed possessions are irresistibly inviting to 
an agrarian experiment. Burke. 
2. Growing in fields ; wild : said of plants. 
We believe that the charlock is pnly an agrarian form 
of Brassica. 
Prof. Buckman, Eep. Brit. Ass. Adv. of Sci., 1861. 
3. Rural Agrarian laws, in ancient Rome, laws 
regulating the distribution of the public lands among the 
citizens ; hence, in modern use, laws relating to or provid- 
ing for changes in the tenure of landed property. Agra- 
rian murder, agrarian outrage, a murder or an outrage 
lrought about by some dispute concerning the occupancy 
of land, or by general discontent among tenants or the rural 
classes. Agrarian region, the name proposed by H. C. 
Watson for that altitudinal zone of vegetation within which 
grain can t- cultivated. 
II. . 1. One who favors an equal division 
of property, especially landed property, among 
the inhabitants of a country, or a change in 
the tenure of land. Ilence, sometimes applied to agi- 
tators accused of leveling tendencies or of hostile designs 
against the holders of property, as to certain political par- 
ties at different times in the United States. 
The new party [the Equal Rights party, 1836, nicknamed 
Locofocos] was arrayed in the habiliments of a real bug- 
bear. Agrarians was the accursed name to be fastened 
on them, and to make them an abomination in the eyes of 
all those who took any interest in law or social order. 
H. mm Hoist, Const. Hist. (trans-X II. 397. 
2. The land itself. [Rare.] 
The agrarian in America is divided among the common 
people in every state. J . Adams, Works, IV. 359. 
3. An agrarian law. [Rare.] 
agrarianism (a-gra'ri-an-izm), . [< agrarian 
+ -ism.] 1. The principle or theory of an equal 
or uniform division of lands; more generally, 
any theory involving radical changes in the 
tenure of land, as the denial of the right of 
private property in it, and advocacy of its dis- 
tribution and control by the government. 2. 
The movement or agitation in favor of agrarian 
views, or for the establishment of more favor- 
able conditions in the use of laud ; violence ex- 
ercised in pursuit of this object. 
Every county board, every central council, however lim- 
ited its legal powers, may become a focus for agrarianum 
or sedition. Nineteenth Century, XIX. 319. 
agrarianize (a-gra'ri-an-Iz), r. t. ; pret. and pp. 
agrarianizcd, ppr. agrarianizing. [< agrarian 
+ -ize. ] 1 . To distribute, as public lands, among 
the people. 2. To imbue with ideas of agra- 
rianism. N. E. D. 
Agra work. See work. 
agret, prep. p)ir. as adv. See agree. 
agreablet, agreabletet. Obsolete forms of 
agreeable, aijreeability. 
agreet, prep. phr. as adv. [< ME. agree, ogre 
(also in forms in gree, at gree, to gree), < OF. a 
gre (F. & gre), favorably, according to one's 
will, at pleasure : a (< L. ad), to, at ; are, earlier 
gred, gret, that which pleases, < ML. gratum, 
will, pleasure, neut. of L. gratus, pleasing: see 
grateful. Cf. agree, v.] In good part ; kindly ; 
in a friendly manner. 
But toke agree alle hool my play. 
Rom. of the Rose, 1. 4349. 
agree (a-gre'), " [< ME. agreen, < OF. agreer, F. 
agreer\= Pr. agreiar, from the OF. phrase a gre, 
favorably, according to one's will, at pleasure : 
see agree, adv.] I. intrans. A. With a person- 
al or personified subject, in which case agree 
is either used absolutely or is followed by with 
before the agreeing object, and by upon, on, for, 
to, or in, and sometimes with, before the object 
or condition of the agreement ; the latter may 
be expressed by an infinitive or a clause. 1. To 
be of one mind ; harmonize in opinion or feel- 
ing : as, with regard to the expediency of the 
law all the parties agree. 
Science . . . ayrees with common sense in demanding a 
belief in real objective bodies, really known as causes of the 
various phenomena, the laws and interrelations of which 
it investigates. Mivart, Nature and Thought, p. 89. 
2. To live in concord or without contention; 
harmonize in action; be mutually accordant 
in intercourse or relation. 
How dost thou and thy master agree ! 
Shak., M. of V., ii. 2. 
