agape
Low (for both senses)Formal/Literary (both senses)
Definition
Meaning
1. (adj.) With the mouth wide open in wonder, shock, or astonishment. 2. (n.) A specific type of love, distinct from romantic or family love, often associated with selfless, unconditional Christian love or charity.
(adj.) Figuratively, in a state of great wonder or amazement. (n.) Can be used more broadly in philosophical or psychological contexts to denote pure, altruistic love.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a homograph: two distinct words with identical spelling but different origins and meanings. The adjective derives from Old Norse 'gapa' (to gape). The noun is a direct borrowing from Ancient Greek 'agapē' (love). They are pronounced differently.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage for either sense. Both are used in formal/literary contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
The noun 'agape' is strongly associated with theological discourse in both varieties. The adjective is associated with literary description.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties. The noun is slightly more common than the adjective in religious/philosophical texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be/lie/stand + agape + (with/in + [Emotion])The + concept/principle + of + agapeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(None common for this word)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in a metaphorical sense about 'corporate philanthropy', but not the word itself.
Academic
Common in theology, philosophy, religious studies, and classical studies departments. The noun is a key term.
Everyday
Very rare. The adjective might appear in creative writing or dramatic speech.
Technical
A technical term in Christian theology and ethics, and in discussions of Greek philosophy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb; the adjective form is used predicatively after verbs like 'stand', 'stare')
American English
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb; the adjective form is used predicatively)
adjective
British English
- The tourists stood agape at the sight of the ancient monument.
- The child's mouth fell agape when she saw the pile of presents.
American English
- The audience was left agape by the magician's final trick.
- He stared, agape, as the verdict was read aloud.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Too rare for A2. Use 'very surprised' or 'open mouth' instead.)
- She looked at him with her mouth agape in surprise. (Adj)
- The story was about love and kindness. (Implies noun concept)
- The spectators were agape as the acrobat performed the dangerous stunt. (Adj)
- In his sermon, the priest spoke about the importance of agape in the community. (Noun)
- Aghast at the betrayal, she could only stand agape, unable to formulate a response. (Adj)
- The philosopher contrasted agape, or self-giving love, with eros, or desirous love. (Noun)
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine your mouth AGAPE (wide open) because you see a giant APE. Or: Think of AGAPE love as 'A GAthering of PEace'—selfless and communal.
Conceptual Metaphor
WONDER/AMAZEMENT IS AN OPEN CONTAINER (mouth agape). LOVE IS A BOND/FORCE (agape binds a community).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse the adjective 'agape' (разинув рот) with the noun 'agape' (ага́пэ, жертвенная любовь). They are different words.
- The noun 'agape' is not equivalent to common Russian words for love like 'любовь' (which is broader) or 'влюблённость' (romantic). It's a specific theological concept.
- Avoid using the adjective in casual speech; it sounds very literary.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing the noun like the adjective (e.g., saying /əˈɡeɪp/ for the love concept).
- Using the adjective in an informal context where 'open-mouthed' or 'astonished' would be more natural.
- Confusing 'agape' (love) with 'agape' (the adjective) in writing, leading to ambiguity.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The crowd watched, agape, as the building collapsed,' what is the most accurate meaning of 'agape'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are complete homographs from different origins. The adjective comes from an Old Norse word for 'gape'. The noun comes directly from Ancient Greek for 'love'.
The adjective is pronounced /əˈɡeɪp/ (uh-GAPE). The noun is pronounced /ˈæɡəpeɪ/ (AG-uh-pay) or /əˈɡɑːpi/ (uh-GAH-pee).
No, both senses are low-frequency and belong to formal, literary, or specialist (theological) registers. Learners are unlikely to encounter them in everyday conversation.
No, 'agape' is only a noun or an adjective in modern English. The related verb is 'gape'.