agape
1 Americanadverb
-
with the mouth wide open, as in wonder, surprise, or eagerness.
We stood there agape at the splendor.
-
wide open.
his mouth agape.
noun
plural
agapae, agapai-
the love of God or Christ for humankind.
-
the love of Christians for other persons, corresponding to the love of God for humankind.
-
unselfish love of one person for another without sexual implications; brotherly love.
noun
-
Christian love, esp as contrasted with erotic love; charity
-
a communal meal in the early Church taken in commemoration of the Last Supper; love feast
adjective
-
(esp of the mouth) wide open
-
very surprised, expectant, or eager, esp as indicated by a wide open mouth
Etymology
Origin of agape1
First recorded in 1660–70; a- 1 + gape
Origin of agape2
First recorded in 1600–10, agape is from the Greek word agápē “love”
Explanation
If you’re watching a powerful display of nature such as an avalanche, you might stare at it with your mouth agape, which means your mouth would be wide open in awe. You should close it, before it is full of snow. Agape, you may have already figured out, comes from the verb gape, meaning "to open wide or split." This is what happens to your mouth when you are looking agape at something in amazement. Don’t confuse mouth-wide-open agape with the other agape, which is spelled the same but pronounced differently and refers to Christian love.
Vocabulary lists containing agape
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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Beowulf: A New Telling
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There I was, learning about the end of this particular chapter of democracy while trying on jorts 50 percent off at a Gap Outlet, my mouth agape at the not-surprising but still-shocking news.
From Slate • Jul. 21, 2024
Rafael Nadal, left arm across his chest, feet levitating above the court and mouth agape, has just walloped a trademark forehand winner.
From BBC • May 24, 2024
In one thread, a man fails to contain his awe at the power of nuclear energy, and ultimately finds himself split into dozens of clones, staring, mouth agape, on another plane of existence.
From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2024
Latsko stunned herself, celebrating with teammates with her mouth agape and eyes wide open.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 5, 2023
Travis sat paralyzed, his mouth agape, looking like he’d seen an angel.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
