agon
(in ancient Greece) a contest in which prizes were awarded in any of a number of events, as athletics, drama, music, poetry, and painting.
(italics)Greek. (in ancient Greek drama) a formalized debate or argumentation, especially in comedy: usually following the proagon and preceding the parabasis.
Literature. conflict, especially between the protagonist and the antagonist.
Origin of agon
1Words Nearby agon
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use agon in a sentence
Furthermore, this agon happens between the poems or plays or novels themselves, and not between the writers.
Compliments Are Nice, but Enough With the Cormac McCarthy Comparisons | William Giraldi | October 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Greek word agon is the root of our words “antagonist” and “agony.”
The Olympics Wimps Out on Wrestling and Competition | James Romm | February 23, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTagon is still the ordinary Russian word for fire, the equivalent of the Latin ignis.
Russian Fairy Tales | W. R. S. Ralstonagon saw this and hesitated, and then for the first time Nyleptha spoke in her soft sweet voice.
Allan Quatermain | H. Rider HaggardPreceding her was agon, the High Priest, arrayed in his most gorgeous vestments, and on either side were other priests.
Allan Quatermain | H. Rider Haggard
After our escape from agon and his pious crew we returned to our quarters in the palace and had a very good time.
Allan Quatermain | H. Rider HaggardThen the High Priest agon turned, and his face was as the face of a devil.
Allan Quatermain | H. Rider Haggard
British Dictionary definitions for agon
/ (ˈæɡəʊn, -ɡɒn) /
(in ancient Greece) a festival at which competitors contended for prizes. Among the best known were the Olympic, Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian Games
Origin of agon
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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