men. The writer once heard one of these declare (in Kentucky), that "We must agonise if we would see God," and he has since met with the same expression in print.
Agony (common), to put or to pile the agony on, means to thrill, to horrify, to keep up or intensify the excitement attendant on sensational productions.
"Wife " is a fair specimen of a book of this kind. It is all agony from beginning to end. There are no pauses for lengthened descriptions of summer evenings or old-fashioned gardens; there are neither panegyrics of virtuous heroes, nor verbal portraits of lovely heroines. The agony is put on at full pressure in the first chapter, and is never shut off till the last.—Saturday Review.
That particular column in the daily papers, which is headed by private communications between individuals, is called the "agony column."
And how does she propose to succeed? Pollaky? The agony column? Placards, or a Bell-man?—Black: A Princess of Thule.
Hard.—I beg of you to see me. Your refusal does more harm than good. Your time will suit me. Please don't refuse. I think it most unkind of you, considering all things.—Q.
—Standard.
The agony column does not always contain unpleasant or dismal tidings. It is used extensively by lovers and as a means of communication between thieves, &c.
Should be delighted to take sweet counsel of an Oracle so lovely, free, and mild. True grief to have marred Elysian blisses.
Sweetheart.—Shall be in town shortly after Christmas. So longing to see you, love. True and faithful even to your shadow.
The Moon.—Bless us and keep us, what can you mean? I never supposed.—Eliab.
—Standard.
It is said that the last Carlist revolution was arranged entirely by means of the Times' agony column.
Football players say of the side that makes a number of goals that it "piles on the agony." In theatrical parlance an "agony piler" is an actor who performs in a sensational play in which the blood of the audience is made to curdle and their flesh creep. To "pile on the agony" was originally American; it was common in 1840.
Aidh (tinker), butter.
Ainoch (tinker), a thing.
Air and exercise (thieves), penal servitude at a convict settlement. Two stretches of air and exercise, i.e., two years' penal servitude.
Airing (racing), a horse is said to be "out for an airing" when there is no intention on the part of those concerned with him that he should win.
Air line road, an (American), an expression applied to a railroad track when it passes over
