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agora

noun ag·o·ra \ ˈa-gə-rə \

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of agora

plural agoras or agorae play \-ˌrē, -ˌrī\

: a gathering place; especially : the marketplace in ancient Greece

Did You Know?

In ancient Greek cities, an agora was an open space serving as an assembly area and a place for commercial, civic, social, and religious activities. Use of the agora varied in different periods. Located in the middle of the city or near the harbor, it was often enclosed by public buildings, covered areas containing shops, and stoas for protection from sun and bad weather. The highest honor for a citizen was to be granted a tomb in the agora.

Origin and Etymology of agora

borrowed from Greek agorá, noun derivative of ageírein "to gather, assemble," of uncertain origin

Note: An Indo-European base *h₂ger- is reconstructible, but Greek ageírein has no easily recognizable congeners. Comparisons with Latin greg-, grex "flock" (allegedly from a reduplicated *gre-g-) and further forms with assumed root extensions from a base *gr- are extremely tenuous.

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1591

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other History Terms

agonistic, carpetbagger, enceinte, fief, historiography, paladin

2

agora

noun ago·ra \ ˌä-gə-ˈrä \

Definition of agora

plural agorot play \-ˈrōt\

: a monetary subunit of the shekel — see shekel at Money Table

Origin and Etymology of agora

borrowed from Modern Hebrewʼăgōrāh, going back to Hebrew, "payment, coin," derivative of ʼāgar "to hire"

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1961

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Learn More about agora

See words that rhyme with agora Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about agora

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