sympathy (ˈsɪmpəθɪ
)
Definitions
noun
- the sharing of another's emotions, esp of sorrow or anguish; pity; compassion
- an affinity or harmony, usually of feelings or interests, between persons or things ⇒
to be in sympathy with someone
- mutual affection or understanding arising from such a relationship; congeniality
- the condition of a physical system or body when its behaviour is similar or corresponds to that of a different system that influences it, such as the vibration of sympathetic strings
- (sometimes plural) a feeling of loyalty, support, or accord, as for an idea, cause, etc
- physiology the mutual relationship between two organs or parts whereby a change in one has an effect on the other
Word Origin
C16: from Latin sympathīa, from Greek sumpatheia, from sumpathēs, from syn- + pathos sufferingSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
compassion,
understanding,
pity,
empathy,
tenderness,
condolence(s)
thoughtfulness,
commiseration,
aroha,
Quotations
"A fellow-feeling makes one wond'rous kind"
Translations
- British English:
sympathy
If you have sympathy for someone who has had a misfortune, you are sorry for them, and show this in the way you behave towards them.We expressed our sympathy for her loss.ˈsɪmpəθɪ NOUN We expressed our sympathy for her loss.
- Spanish:
lástima
nf
- French:
compassion
nf
- German:
Mitgefühl
nnt
- Chinese: 同情心 n
- Arabic: تَعَاطُف n
- Portuguese: compaixão nf
- Russian: сочувствие nnt
- Croatian: simpatija nf
- Czech: soucit nf
- Danish: sympati nutr
- Dutch: sympathie nf
- Finnish: sympatia n
- Greek: συμπόνια nf
- Italian: comprensione nf
- Japanese: 同情 n
- Korean: 동정 n
- Norwegian: sympati nm
- Polish: sympatia nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: compaixão nf
- European Spanish:
lástima
nf
- Swedish: sympati nutr
- Thai: ความเห็นใจ n
- Turkish: halden anlama n
- Vietnamese: sự thông cảm n
Usage examples
The fact that there was more of sympathy than mockery in the smile didn't help.
, CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)An outpouring of public sympathy for the crooked rock God has led William Hill to cut their odds from 50-1 to 16-1.
NME (New Musical Express) (2003)However, there is understood to be little sympathy for the pilots among colleagues who have voted to accept restructuring proposals.
Irish Times (2002)The section on his Celtic career would draw sympathy from the most vociferous of his Jungle critics.
Glasgow Herald (2001)He remembered her afterwards lying on the floor and crying, but he felt no sympathy for her.
, BEYOND FEAR (2002)