compassion

EtymologyEdit

From Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin compassio (“sympathy”), from compati, past participle compassus (“to suffer together with”), from Latin com- (“together”) + pati (“to suffer”); see passion.

PronunciationEdit

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /kəmˈpæʃ.ən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æʃən

NounEdit

compassion (countable and uncountable, plural compassions)

1. Deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it
   • 1849, Robert Leighton (Archbishop of Glasgow), A practical commentary upon the first Epistle of St. Peter (page 47)

     Oh! the unspeakable privilege to have Him for our Father, who is the Father of mercies and compassions, and those not barren, fruitless pityings, for He is withal the God of all consolations.

SynonymsEdit

• empathy, pity, ruth, tenderheartedness, sorrow
• kindness, heart, mercy

Derived termsEdit

• compassionate
• compassion fatigue

Related termsEdit

• compatible

TranslationsEdit

VerbEdit

compassion (third-person singular simple present compassions, present participle compassioning, simple past and past participle compassioned)

1. (obsolete) To pity.
   • 1607, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Titus Andronicus, IV. i. 124:

     O heavens, can you hear a good man groan / And not relent, or not compassion him?

External linksEdit

• compassion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• compassion in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

French Wikipedia has an article on:

Compassion

Wikipedia ^fr

PronunciationEdit

• Audio

  (file)

NounEdit

compassion f (plural compassions)

1. compassion, pity

External linksEdit

• “compassion” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).