Definition of Sympathy

1. Noun. An inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion. "I knew I could count on his understanding"

Exact synonyms: Understanding
Generic synonyms: Disposition, Inclination, Tendency
Derivative terms: Sympathetic, Sympathise, Sympathize, Understand

2. Noun. Sharing the feelings of others (especially feelings of sorrow or anguish).

3. Noun. A relation of affinity or harmony between people; whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other. "The two of them were in close sympathy"
Generic synonyms: Affinity, Kinship
Specialized synonyms: Mutual Affection, Mutual Understanding
Derivative terms: Sympathetic, Sympathise, Sympathize

Definition of Sympathy

1. n. Feeling corresponding to that which another feels; the quality of being affected by the affection of another, with feelings correspondent in kind, if not in degree; fellow- feeling.

2. n. The reciprocal influence exercised by organs or parts on one another, as shown in the effects of a diseased condition of one part on another part or organ, as in the vomiting produced by a tumor of the brain.

Definition of Sympathy

1. Noun. A feeling of pity or sorrow for the suffering or distress of another; compassion. ¹

2. Noun. The ability to share the feelings of another; ¹

3. Noun. A mutual relationship between people or things such that they are correspondingly affected by any condition. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Sympathy

1. a feeling of compassion for another's suffering [n -THIES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Sympathy

sympathize with
sympathized
sympathizer
sympathizers
sympathizes
sympathizing
sympathizingly
sympathoadrenomedullary
sympathoexcitation
sympathoexcitatory
sympatholytic
sympatholytics
sympathomimetic
sympathomimetics
sympathovagal
sympathy (current term)
sympathy card
sympathy strike
sympatico
sympatric
sympatrically
sympatries
sympatry
sympetalies
sympetalous
sympetaly
symphile
symphiles
symphilid
symphily

Literary usage of Sympathy

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume (1874)
"The constancy which leads to a dungeon is a painful commodity to its possessor, but sympathy with his pain need not incapacitate a spectator for that other ..."

2. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"It is, however, quite probable that "love of the helpless" was one of the earliest manifestations of sympathy, just as light sometimes is evidence of ..."

3. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"However, one may feel certain that it is the reverse of Herbert Spencer's idea which is that sympathy grew out of *love of the helpless. ..."

4. Dictionary of National Biography by LESLIE. STEPHEN (1901)
"Personal sympathy with her in her bereavement was not, however, ... One of its most permanent results was to sharpen her sense of sympathy, which had always ..."

5. Psychology, General Introduction by Charles Hubbard Judd (1917)
"sympathy with fellow beings. Such general comments on attention lead to the treatment ... sympathy involved in all recognition of objects. sympathy extends ..."

6. Psychology, General Introduction by Charles Hubbard Judd (1917)
"sympathy with fellow beings. Such general comments on attention lead to the treatment of special cases. ... sympathy involved in all recognition of objects. ..."

7. A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume (1874)
"The constancy which leads to a dungeon is a painful commodity to its possessor, but sympathy with his pain need not incapacitate a spectator for that other ..."

8. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"It is, however, quite probable that "love of the helpless" was one of the earliest manifestations of sympathy, just as light sometimes is evidence of ..."

9. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"However, one may feel certain that it is the reverse of Herbert Spencer's idea which is that sympathy grew out of *love of the helpless. ..."

10. Dictionary of National Biography by LESLIE. STEPHEN (1901)
"Personal sympathy with her in her bereavement was not, however, ... One of its most permanent results was to sharpen her sense of sympathy, which had always ..."

11. Psychology, General Introduction by Charles Hubbard Judd (1917)
"sympathy with fellow beings. Such general comments on attention lead to the treatment ... sympathy involved in all recognition of objects. sympathy extends ..."

12. Psychology, General Introduction by Charles Hubbard Judd (1917)
"sympathy with fellow beings. Such general comments on attention lead to the treatment of special cases. ... sympathy involved in all recognition of objects. ..."

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