agon

[ ag-ohn, -on, ah-gohn ]

noun

, plural a·go·nes [uh, -, goh, -neez].

1. (in ancient Greece) a contest in which prizes were awarded in any of a number of events, as athletics, drama, music, poetry, and painting.
2. (italics) Greek. (in ancient Greek drama) a formalized debate or argumentation, especially in comedy: usually following the proagon and preceding the parabasis.
3. Literature. conflict, especially between the protagonist and the antagonist.

agon

/ ˈæɡəʊn; -ɡɒn /

noun

1. (in ancient Greece) a festival at which competitors contended for prizes. Among the best known were the Olympic, Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian Games

Word History and Origins

Origin of agon¹

First recorded in 1650–60, agon is from the Greek word agṓn struggle, contest

Word History and Origins

Origin of agon¹

C17: Greek: contest, from agein to lead

Example Sentences

Furthermore, this agon happens between the poems or plays or novels themselves, and not between the writers.

From The Daily Beast

The Greek word agon is the root of our words “antagonist” and “agony.”

From The Daily Beast

Agon is still the ordinary Russian word for fire, the equivalent of the Latin ignis.

From Project Gutenberg

Agon saw this and hesitated, and then for the first time Nyleptha spoke in her soft sweet voice.

From Project Gutenberg

Preceding her was Agon, the High Priest, arrayed in his most gorgeous vestments, and on either side were other priests.

From Project Gutenberg

After our escape from Agon and his pious crew we returned to our quarters in the palace and had a very good time.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the High Priest Agon turned, and his face was as the face of a devil.

From Project Gutenberg