Sympathy
/ˈsɪm.pə.θi/noun
A feeling of compassion or understanding for someone else's situation or feelings.
Did you know?The concept of sympathy has roots in ancient Greek philosophy, where it was linked to the belief that all things are interconnected and share a universal experience of suffering.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
συμπάθεια (sympatheia)
“A shared feeling, experiencing emotions together.”
Old French
Old French
sympathie
“A feeling of connection or affinity with another's emotions.”
Middle English
Middle English
sympathie
“The condition of being affected by or sharing in the feelings of another.”
Modern English
English
sympathy
“The modern understanding of sharing feelings and compassion for others.”