English edit

Etymology edit

commiserator +‎ -ory

Adjective edit

commiseratory (comparative more commiseratory, superlative most commiseratory)

  1. Serving to commiserate; sympathetic.
    • 1939, Douglas Reed, LIFE -- Göring 11 September 1939[1], Time Inc, →ISSN Invalid ISSN:
      Adolf Hitler in self-commiseratory mood once spoke darkly of dying and said he had chosen his successor. He thought a minor growth in his throat (later cleanly removed) was an incurable cancer.
    • 1942, Mary Watters, The History of Mary Baldwin College, 1842-1942, Mary Baldwin College:
      Comments were not always so flattering as to the enjoyment of "listening to music we have heard practiced for months before"; but whether mildly critical and self-commiseratory or flippantly satirical, the "circus bench season" never failed to bring forth its student editorial comment.
    • 1980, Anthony Burgess, Earthly powers, →ISBN:
      Nevertheless, I wrote a long commiseratory letter to Carlo, who was sent for a rest to a nursing home run by nuns at Bellagio on the Lake of Como.