agonic

Adjective (1)

agonic (not comparable)

1. Lacking an angle.
2. (navigation) Having a magnetic deviation of zero.
   • There are two lines on the earth's surface which have been called agonic lines, upon which there is no declination; and where, therefore, the needle is directed along the terrestrial meridian.1852, Dionysius Lardner, “Terrestrial Magnetism”, in Hand-book of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, second course (Heat—Common Electricity—Magnetism—Voltaic Electricity), London: Taylor, Walton, and...
   • It is contended by some that their [cyclones'] general movement is at right angles to the magnetic meridian. If this should prove to be correct, then in all that part of the United States lying west of the Agonic Line, the general direction whence local rain, hail, and snow-storms come, will be as...1872 January 10, John H. Tice, “[Proceedings of the Missouri Horticultural Society at the Thirteenth Annual Meeting Held at Kansas City, January 9–11, 1872.] Meteorology”, in John F. Wielandy...
3. Synonym of agonal.

   Synonyms:

   agonal

Noun

agonic (plural agonics)

1. Synonym of agonic line.
   • One of these [agonic lines] passes over the American and the other over the Asiatic continent, and the former has consequently been called the American and the latter the Asiatic agonic. […] On the west of the Asiatic agonic the declination is west, on the east it is east.1852, Dionysius Lardner, “Terrestrial Magnetism”, in Hand-book of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, second course (Heat—Common Electricity—Magnetism—Voltaic Electricity), London: Taylor, Walton, and...
   • It should be noted that the period of 2000 years deduced from the average motion of the agonics is identical with that which we obtain if we suppose that the secondary magnetic system revolves around the equator at the average rate of the two secondary poles, viz: ³⁶⁰⁄_(0.194) = 1860 years.1895, The American Journal of Science, New Haven, Conn.: J[ames] D[wight] & E[dward] S[alisbury] Dana, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 321

   Synonyms:

   agonic line

Adjective (2)

UK/ˈæɡənik/

agonic (not comparable)

1. Characterized by agony.
   • By cultivating his own reason, the pupil could stand back from the agonic scenes in Hades and decide the merits of the case after [François] Fénelon's artifice had absorbed him passionately in the dialogue: […]1986, George Armstrong Kelly, Mortal Politics in Eighteenth-century France, Waterloo, Ont.: University of Waterloo Press, →ISBN, page 81
   • Thus, the opening citation, the eleventh section of The Case of Wagner, the passage which perhaps is the zenith of [Friedrich] Nietzsche's irony, is succeeded by the brief agonic cry of the twelfth section: […]2001, Leslie David Blasius, “Nietzsche, Riemann, Wagner: Where Music Lies”, in Suzannah Clark, Alexander Rehding, editors, Music Theory and Natural Order from the Renaissance to the Early Twentieth...
2. Of a mode of social interaction based on threats, displays of power, or inducements of anxiety.
   • [I]n some primates, especially chimpanzees, the hedonic mode of social communication predominates group interactions. […] This is marked by much physical contact, stroking, hugging, lip smacking and sharing. The social interactions are more relaxed, as are the individual members of the group, and...1989, Paul Gilbert, “The Mapping of Human Nature”, in Human Nature and Suffering, Hove, East Sussex: Lawrence Erlbaum, →ISBN; classic edition, Abingdon, Oxon.; New York, N.Y.: Routledge, 2017, →ISBN...
   • Through comparative study of the behavior of the higher primates and humans, Michael Chance (1988) distinguishes between agonic and hedonic forms of social organization. The agonic–hedonic distinction has two limitations which have led to its disuse in contemporary primatology. First, Chance and...2007, Warren D. TenHouten, “The Sociorelational Approach to the Emotions: Four Elementary Forms of Sociality”, in A General Theory of Emotions and Social Life, Abingdon, Oxon.; New York, N.Y....

   Antonyms:

   hedonic

3. (obsolete) Occurring shortly before death; agonal.
   • A study of the conditions under which agonic invagination of the intestine occurs will not be out of place in considering the etiology of intussusception. Agonic invagination is very much more common in children than adults, the proportion being, according to [Hermann] Nothnagel, one to fifty....1907 July 20, P. L. Hipsley, “The Etiology of Intussusception”, in George E. Rennie, editor, The Australasian Medical Gazette: The Journal of the Australasian Branches of the British Medical...
   • The author is entirely at one with Brockbank that platelets are agonic products of red cells and dismisses the other theories shortly.1914, The Medical Chronicle: A Monthly Record of the Progress of the Medical Sciences, volume XXVI (series IV), Manchester: Sherratt & Hughes, →OCLC, page 550