agonize

• agonise

From French agoniser, from Late Latin agonizare, from Ancient Greek ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnízomai, “to fight, contend”). See agony.

• IPA: /ˈæ.ɡən.aɪz/

agonize (third-person singular simple present agonizes, present participle agonizing, simple past and past participle agonized)

1. (intransitive) To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish.
   • Alexander Pope:

     To smart and agonize at every pore.

2. (intransitive) To struggle; to wrestle; to strive desperately, whether mentally or physically.
   • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, chapter 3:

     So I took a last stare round, agonizing to see if there was any way of escape; but the stone walls and roof were solid enough to crush me, and the stack of casks too closely packed to hide more than a rat.

• agon, agony
• agonization