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Sympathy - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Sympathy : (noun)
1: an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an
opinion; "his sympathies were always with the underdog";
"I knew I could count on his understanding" [syn: understanding]
2: sharing the feelings of others (especially feelings of
sorrow or anguish) [syn: fellow feeling]
3: a relation of affinity or harmony between people; whatever
affects one correspondingly affects the other; "the two of
them were in close sympathy"
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Sympathy : \Sym"pa*thy\, n. (Physiol. & Med.)
(a) 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.
(b) The influence of a certain psychological state in one
person in producing a like state in another.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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Sympathy : \Sym"pa*thy\, n.; pl. Sympathies. [F. sympathie, L.
sympathia, Gr. ?; sy`n with _ ? suffering, passion, fr. ?, ?,
to suffer. See Syn-, and Pathos.]
1. 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.
They saw, but other sight instead -- a crowd Of ugly
serpents! Horror on them fell, And horrid sympathy.
--Milton.
2. An agreement of affections or inclinations, or a
conformity of natural temperament, which causes persons to
be pleased, or in accord, with one another; as, there is
perfect sympathy between them.
3. Kindness of feeling toward one who suffers; pity;
commiseration; compassion.
I value myself upon sympathy, I hate and despise
myself for envy. --Kames.
4. (Physiol.)
(a) The reciprocal influence exercised by the various
organs or parts of the body on one another, as
manifested in the transmission of a disease by unknown
means from one organ to another quite remote, or in
the influence exerted by a diseased condition of one
part on another part or organ, as in the vomiting
produced by a tumor of the brain.
(b) That relation which exists between different persons
by which one of them produces in the others a state or
condition like that of himself. This is shown in the
tendency to yawn which a person often feels on seeing
another yawn, or the strong inclination to become
hysteric experienced by many women on seeing another
person suffering with hysteria.
5. A tendency of inanimate things to unite, or to act on each
other; as, the sympathy between the loadstone and iron.
[R.]
6. Similarity of function, use office, or the like.
The adverb has most sympathy with the verb. --Earle.
Syn: Pity; fellow-feeling; compassion; commiseration;
tenderness; condolence; agreement.
Usage: Sympathy, Commiseration. Sympathy is literally a
fellow-feeling with others in their varied conditions
of joy or of grief. This term, however, is now more
commonly applied to a fellow-feeling with others under
affliction, and then coincides very nearly with
commiseration. In this case it is commonly followed by
for; as, to feel sympathy for a friend when we see him
distressed. The verb sympathize is followed by with;
as, to sympathize with a friend in his distresses or
enjoyments. ``Every man would be a distinct species to
himself, were there no sympathy among individuals.''
--South. See Pity.
Fault, Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam
wrought Commiseration. --Milton.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Example Usage of Sympathy |
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msluce09: Its almost like they enjoy getting Sympathy or something..complaining about this or that. Id dance a jig if my kid could do any of that. |
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nelmaleite: ♫ #Ouvindo The Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil http://irpra.la/m/90924 no @sitekboing |
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HannahRisk: i only want Sympathy in the form of you crawling into bed with me. |
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