different between agony vs devastation

English

Etymology

14th century, via Old French [Term?] and Latin [Term?]; from Ancient Greek ?????? (ag?nía, “emulation, competition, struggle”), from ???? (ag?n, “contest”). Specifically of the struggle that precedes death (mortal agony) from the 1540s.

The sense of "extreme pain" from c. 1600.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?æ.??.ni?/

Noun

agony (countable and uncountable, plural agonies)

1. Extreme pain.
2. (biblical) The sufferings of Jesus Christ in the garden of Gethsemane.
3. Violent contest or striving.
   • 1849, Thomas Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II, Chapter 10

     The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations.

4. Paroxysm of joy; keen emotion.
5. The last struggle of life; death struggle.

Synonyms

• anguish, torment, throe, distress, pang, suffering
• See also Thesaurus:agony

Antonyms

• (extreme pain): ecstasy

Related terms

• agon
• agonal
• agonist, antagonist, protagonist
• agonistes
• agonize, agonise

Translations

Anagrams

• Goyan

English

Etymology

From Middle French dévastation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d?.v??ste?.??n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

devastation (countable and uncountable, plural devastations)

1. The act of devastating, or the state of being devastated; a laying waste.
   • 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "[1]," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012):

     Perhaps as startling as the sheer toll was the devastation to some of the state’s well-known locales. Boardwalks along the beach in Seaside Heights, Belmar and other towns on the Jersey Shore were blown away. Amusement parks, arcades and restaurants all but vanished. Bridges to barrier islands buckled, preventing residents from even inspecting the damage to their property.

2. (law) Waste or misapplication of the assets of a deceased person by an executor or administrator; devastavit.

   Synonym: devastavit

Translations