compassion
English
Etymology
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French compassion, from Ecclesiastical Latin compassio (“sympathy”), from Latin compati, past participle compassus (“to suffer together with”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin com- (“together”) + pati (“to suffer”); see passion.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL. IPA(key): /kəmˈpæʃ.ən/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -æʃən
Noun
compassion (usually uncountable, plural compassions)
- 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.
- 2002, Werner J. Krieglstein, Compassion: A New Philosophy of the Other, page 149,
- In many ways, people today lack compassion as a way to internalize and experience the inner soul of the other person, animals, and the universe. We need to reintroduce compassion so humanity may survive.
- 2008, Richard Reilly, Ethics of Compassion: Bridging Ethical Theory and Religious Moral Discourse, page 1,
- Ethics of compassion are grounded in one's mindful commitment to one's own happiness with the recognition that the well being that one wishes for oneself also is wished for by others.
- 1849, Robert Leighton (Archbishop of Glasgow), A practical commentary upon the first Epistle of St. Peter (page 47)
Synonyms
- (deep awareness of another's suffering): empathy, mercy, ruth, pity, sorrow, tenderheartedness
- (desire to relieve another's suffering): kindness, heart, mercy, ruth, tenderheartedness
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
deep awareness of the suffering of another
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Verb
compassion (third-person singular simple present compassions, present participle compassioning, simple past and past participle compassioned)
- (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?
- 1830, The Last of the Supernaturalists, in James Fraser (editor), Fraser's Magazine, Volume 1, page 226,
- Both wanted in early life the one thing essential to every individual, of whatever nature or degree of intellect, a kind, compassioning adviser; - a true friend; […] .
- 1836, William A. Brewer, The Widow's Son, in Recreations of a Merchant; Or, The Christian Sketch-book, page 27,
- The widow's tears flowed wildly. / But Oh! a harbinger of life approached — / God, manifest in flesh — compassioned her, / And bade her weep no more.
- 1607, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Titus Andronicus, IV. i. 124:
Further reading
- “compassion”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “compassion”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin compassiō, compassiōnem, from Latin compatior.
Pronunciation
Noun
compassion f (plural compassions)
Related terms
Further reading
- “compassion”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms borrowed from Old French
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Ecclesiastical Latin
- English terms derived from Latin
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/æʃən
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English uncountable nouns
- English countable nouns
- English verbs
- English terms with obsolete senses
- French terms borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin
- French terms derived from Ecclesiastical Latin
- French terms derived from Latin
- French 3-syllable words
- French terms with IPA pronunciation
- French terms with audio links
- French lemmas
- French nouns
- French countable nouns
- French feminine nouns