agape — having the mouth wide open, especially in amazement or wonder
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: having the mouth wide open, especially in amazement or wonder
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈɡeɪp/
Example Sentences
- My boss's jaw dropped agape when I told him I was quitting to become a YouTuber.
- The civil service exam candidates stood agape when they saw the pass rate was only 3%.
- She stared agape at the enormous bill after the dinner.
agape
ADJECTIVE[/əˈɡeɪp/]
having the mouth wide open, especially in amazement or wonder
The children stood agape as the giant whale leaped out of the water.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Agape derives from Old English, combining the prefix 'a-' (denoting a state or condition) with 'gape', a verb meaning 'to open the mouth wide'. The verb 'gape' itself originates from Old Norse 'gapa', reflecting Viking linguistic influence on English during the medieval period.
Breakdown
a- (in a state of) + gape (open the mouth wide) = in a state of having the mouth open wide
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My boss's jaw dropped agape when I told him I was quitting to become a YouTuber.”
“The civil service exam candidates stood agape when they saw the pass rate was only 3%.”
“She stared agape at the enormous bill after the dinner.”
“The children watched agape as the fireworks lit up the night sky.”
📚Related Words
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