pathetic
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle French pathétique, from Latin patheticus, from Ancient Greek παθητικός (pathētikós, “subject to feeling, capable of feeling, impassioned”), from παθητός (pathētós, “one who has suffered, subject to suffering”), from πάσχω (páskhō, “to suffer”).
Pronunciation
Adjective
pathetic (comparative more pathetic, superlative most pathetic)
- Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.
- The child’s pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man’s heart.
- 1883: George Reynolds, "History of the Book of Mormon: Contents of the Records, II," Contributor
- We have now arrived at one of the most pathetic and glorious events in the history of Israel, one which sanctifies the Lamanite race with the powers of martyrdom, and, by the blood of the victims, washes its garments white from many a former sin.
- 1887, H. Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure[1]:
- She held his hand in one of hers, but she too was dozing, and the two made a pretty, or rather a pathetic, picture.
- Arousing scorn or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
- You can't even run two miles? That’s pathetic.
- You're almost 26 years old and you still can't hold a real job? That's pathetic.
- 2005, In Her Shoes:
- Well you'd better think of something because middle-aged tramps aren't cute, they're pathetic.
- Template:RQ:LstWkTnt
- (obsolete) Expressing or showing anger; passionate.
- (anatomy) Trochlear.
Synonyms
- (arousing pity): pitiful, wretched, miserable, deplorable, pathetisad
- (arousing scorn): disgraceful, shameful, despicable, dishonorable
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion
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arousing scorn or contempt
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
Further reading
- “pathetic”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “pathetic”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɛtɪk
- Rhymes:English/ɛtɪk/3 syllables
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English terms with quotations
- English terms with obsolete senses
- en:Anatomy