sympathetically

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

English sympathetical

Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der.

Proto-Germanic *līkąder.

Proto-Germanic *-līkaz

Proto-Germanic *-ê

Proto-Germanic *-līkê

Proto-West Germanic *-līkē

Old English -līċe

Middle English -ly

English -ly

English sympathetically

From sympathetical + -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /sɪmpəˈθɛtɪk(ə)li/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adverb

sympathetically (comparative more sympathetically, superlative most sympathetically)

1. Owing to or showing evidence of sympathy, or affinity; happening through or demonstrating correspondences, whether occult or physiological.
   • 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:

     I feel sure that here before me were assembled those, in whose unhealing hearts the sight of those bleak tablets sympathetically caused the old wounds to bleed afresh.

2. In a manner which demonstrates a sharing in the feelings of others; compassionately.
   • 1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 90:

     Still she didn't stir, so he patted her shoulder and added sympathetically, 'Come now, don't take it so much to heart.'

Translations

demonstrating a sharing in the feelings of others

• Finnish: myötätuntoisesti
• French: sympathiquement (fr)
• Greek:

  Ancient Greek: συμπαθῶς (sumpathôs)