compassion

(redirected from compassions)
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical.

compassion

a deep sympathy for the sorrows of others, with an urge to alleviate their pain: The nurse showed great compassion for the injured children.

Not to be confused with:

empathy – ability to imagine oneself in the condition of another; a vicarious participation in another’s emotions: The widow expressed empathy for the woman who had just lost her husband.

sympathy – a general kinship with another’s feelings no matter of what kind: He sent a sympathy card to the widow.

com·pas·sion

(kəm-păsh′ən)

Deep awareness of the suffering of another accompanied by the wish to relieve it. See Synonyms at pity.

[Middle English compassioun, from Late Latin compassiō, compassiōn-, from compassus, past participle of compatī, to sympathize : Latin com-, com- + Latin patī, to suffer; see pē(i)- in Indo-European roots.]

com·pas′sion·less adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

compassion

(kəmˈpæʃən)

a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another, often including the desire to alleviate it

[C14: from Old French, from Late Latin compassiō fellow feeling, from compatī to suffer with, from Latin com- with + patī to bear, suffer]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

com•pas•sion

(kəmˈpæʃ ən)

n.

a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for someone struck by misfortune, accompanied by a desire to alleviate the suffering; mercy.

[1300–50; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Late Latin compassiō < compat(ī) (see compatible)]

syn: See sympathy.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	compassion - a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering compassionateness heartstrings - your deepest feelings of love and compassion; "many adoption cases tug at the heartstrings" fellow feeling, sympathy - sharing the feelings of others (especially feelings of sorrow or anguish) tenderheartedness, tenderness - warm compassionate feelings mercifulness, mercy - the feeling that motivates compassion
	2.	compassion - the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it pity mercifulness, mercy - a disposition to be kind and forgiving; "in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband"

compassion

noun sympathy, understanding, charity, pity, humanity, mercy, heart, quarter, sorrow, kindness, tenderness, condolence, clemency, commiseration, fellow feeling, soft-heartedness, tender-heartedness The Dalai Lama practises what he preaches: universal kindness and compassion.
indifference, apathy, unconcern, mercilessness, cold-heartedness

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

compassion

noun

Sympathetic, sad concern for someone in misfortune:

commiseration, condolence, empathy, pity, sympathy.

Translations

شَفَقَه، حُنُو

soucitsoustrastslitování

medfølelsemedlidenhed

Erbarmen Mitleid Mitgefühl

compasión misericordia

compassion pitié apitoiement

אמפתיהחמלה

samúî

compassione pietà simpatia

gailestis

līdzjūtība

deernismedelijden

compassion

[kəmˈpæʃən] N → compasión f
to have compassion for sth/for or on sb → tener compasión por or de algo/algn, compadecerse de algo/algn
to feel compassion for sb → sentir compasión por or de algn
to move sb to compassion → mover a algn a la compasión

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

compassion

[kəmˈpæʃ^ən] n → compassion f, sensibilité f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

compassion

n → Mitgefühl nt, → Mitleid nt → (for mit); (esp Bibl) → Erbarmen nt → (on, for mit)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

compassion

[kəmˈpæʃ/ən] n → compassione f

compassion

(kəmˈpӕʃən) noun

sorrow or pity for the sufferings of another person.

comˈpassionate (-nət) adjective

compassion

n. compasión, lástima.

compassion

n compasión f

References in classic literature ?

For such was the compassion which inhabited Mr Allworthy's mind, that nothing but the steel of justice could ever subdue it.

View in context

AN Unworthy Man who had laughed at the woes of a Woman whom he loved, was bewailing his indiscretion in sack-cloth-of-gold and ashes-of-roses, when the Angel of Compassion looked down upon him, saying:

View in context

Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favourable eye upon thy creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion? Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone?

View in context

He had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom.

View in context

In truth I must acknowledge that, with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should not think anyone abiding in it an object of compassion, while they are sharers of our intimacy at Rosings."

View in context

Whenever she went out -- and compassion for her misadventure made her friends eager to entertain her -- she bore a demeanour that was perfect.

View in context

He threw himself, therefore, into the love for his little Jehan with the passion of a character already profound, ardent, concentrated; that poor frail creature, pretty, fair- haired, rosy, and curly,--that orphan with another orphan for his only support, touched him to the bottom of his heart; and grave thinker as he was, he set to meditating upon Jehan with an infinite compassion. He kept watch and ward over him as over something very fragile, and very worthy of care.

View in context

Madame Stahl talked to Kitty as to a charming child that one looks on with pleasure as on the memory of one's youth, and only once she said in passing that in all human sorrows nothing gives comfort but love and faith, and that in the sight of Christ's compassion for us no sorrow is trifling--and immediately talked of other things.