pathetical
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Late Latin patheticus + -al.
Pronunciation
[edit]Adjective
[edit]pathetical (comparative more pathetical, superlative most pathetical)
- (now archaic) Arousing sympathy; pathetic. [from 16th c.]
- Arising from strong emotion; passionate. [from 16th c.]
- c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii:
- Not Hermes Prolocutor to the Gods,
Could vſe perſwaſions more pathetical.
- 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition III, section 2, member 2, subsection ii:
- Theseus at the first sight of Helen was so besotted, that he esteemed himself the happiest man in the world if he might enjoy her, and to that purpose kneeled down, and made his pathetical prayers unto the gods.