agonist
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin agōnista, from Ancient Greek ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “combatant, champion”).[1][2] By surface analysis, agon or agony[2] + -ist.
Pronunciation
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈæ.ɡɘ.nɪst/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
agonist (plural agonists)
- Someone involved in a contest or battle (as in an agon), protagonist.
- The muscle that contracts while the other relaxes.
- When bending the elbow, the biceps is the agonist.
- (biochemistry, pharmacology) A molecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction.
- Coordinate terms: antagonist, blocker
- Acetylcholine is an agonist at the cholinergic receptor.
Derived terms
Descendants
- → Polish: agonista
Translations
someone involved in a contest or battle
a muscle that contracts while another relaxes
molecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
References
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “agonist (n.)”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 “agonist, n.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
Further reading
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from French agoniste.
Noun
agonist m (plural agoniști)
Declension
| singular | plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indefinite | definite | indefinite | definite | ||
| nominative-accusative | agonist | agonistul | agoniști | agoniștii | |
| genitive-dative | agonist | agonistului | agoniști | agoniștilor | |
| vocative | agonistule | agoniștilor | |||