sympathy

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sympathy

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

Not to be confused with:

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.

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.

sym·pa·thy

(sĭm′pə-thē)

n. pl. sym·pa·thies

a. A feeling of pity or sorrow for the distress of another; commiseration. See Synonyms at pity.

b. often sympathies An expression of such feeling: offered her sympathies to the mourning family.

a. Mutual understanding or feeling between people: "Like two frightened children, we sought at the same time to comfort one another, so quick was the sympathy between us" (Nicholas Meyer).

b. Agreement with or support for an opinion or position: The mayor is in sympathy with the proposal.

c. often sympathies A tendency to support a position or opinion: a politician of conservative sympathies.

a. A relationship or affinity between things in which whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other: "Continuous measurements of ionospheric densities ... showed a variation of noon ionization in sympathy with sunspot activity" (E.V. Appelton).

b. Physics A relation between bodies such that vibrations in one body cause sympathetic vibrations in another.

c. Physiology A relation between parts or organs by which a disease or disorder in one induces an effect in the other.

[Latin sympathīa, natural affinity, fellow feeling, from Greek sumpatheia, from sumpathēs, affected by like feelings : sun-, syn- + pathos, emotion; see k^went(h)- in Indo-European roots.]

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.

sympathy

(ˈsɪmpəθɪ)

n, pl -thies

1. the sharing of another's emotions, esp of sorrow or anguish; pity; compassion

2. an affinity or harmony, usually of feelings or interests, between persons or things: to be in sympathy with someone.

3. mutual affection or understanding arising from such a relationship; congeniality

4. (General Physics) the condition of a physical system or body when its behaviour is similar or corresponds to that of a different system that influences it, such as the vibration of sympathetic strings

5. (sometimes plural) a feeling of loyalty, support, or accord, as for an idea, cause, etc

6. (Physiology) physiol the mutual relationship between two organs or parts whereby a change in one has an effect on the other

[C16: from Latin sympathīa, from Greek sumpatheia, from sumpathēs, from syn- + pathos suffering]

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

sym•pa•thy

(ˈsɪm pə θi)

n., pl. -thies,
adj. n.

1. harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the part of one person with respect to another.

2. the harmony of feeling existing between persons of like tastes or opinion or of congenial dispositions.

3. the ability to share the feelings of another, esp. in sorrow or trouble; compassion; commiseration.

4. sympathies, feelings or impulses of compassion or support.

5. favorable or approving accord; favor or approval.

6. agreement, consonance, or accord.

7. Physiol. the relation between parts or organs whereby a condition or disorder of one part induces some effect in another.

adj.

8. acting out of or expressing sympathy: a sympathy vote.

[1560–70; < Latin sympathīa < Greek sympátheia=sympathe-, s. of sympathḗs sympathetic (sym- sym- + -pathēs, adj. derivative of páthos suffering, sensation) + -ia -y³]

syn: sympathy, compassion, pity, empathy denote the tendency or capacity to share the feelings of others. sympathy signifies a general kinship with another's feelings, no matter of what kind: sympathy with their yearning for freedom; sympathy for the bereaved. compassion implies a deep sympathy for the sorrows or troubles of another, and a powerful urge to alleviate distress: compassion for homeless refugees. pity suggests a kindly, but sometimes condescending, sorrow aroused by the suffering or misfortune of others: Mere pity for the flood victims is no help. empathy refers to a vicarious participation in the emotions of another, or to the ability to imagine oneself in someone else's predicament: to feel empathy with a character in a play.

empathy, sympathy - Empathy denotes a deep emotional understanding of another's feelings or problems, while sympathy is more general and can apply to small annoyances or setbacks.

sympathy

noun

1. compassion, understanding, pity, empathy, tenderness, condolence(s), thoughtfulness, commiseration We expressed our sympathy for her loss.
compassion indifference, scorn, disdain, insensitivity, coldness, callousness, hard-heartedness, pitilessness, lack of feeling or understanding or sympathy

2. affinity, agreement, rapport, union, harmony, warmth, correspondence, fellow feeling, congeniality I still have sympathy with this point of view.
affinity opposition, resistance, hostility, disapproval, antagonism, unfriendliness

3. agreement, support, favour, approval, encouragement, affiliation, partiality, approbation Several hundred workers struck in sympathy with their colleagues.

Quotations
"A fellow-feeling makes one wond'rous kind" [David Garrick An Occasional Prologue on Quitting the Theatre]

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

sympathy

noun

1. A very close understanding between persons:

empathy.

2. Sympathetic, sad concern for someone in misfortune:

commiseration, compassion, condolence, empathy, pity.

Translations

تَعَاطُفتَعاطُف مَععَطْف

soucitsoustrastsympatiesouhlas

sympatiforståelsemedfølelse

Sympathie Übereinstimmung Verständnis Anteilnahme Mitgefühl

συμπόνια

comprensión lástima simpatía solidaridad compasión

sympatiamyötätuntoosanotto

sympathie apitoiement compassion pitié

simpatija

részvét

samkenndsamúî

comprensione comprensivo con partecipazione cordoglio empatia

同情交感共感共鳴

동정

simpatizuojantisužjaučiantis

līdzjūtībasapratnesolidaritāte

sympathie

sympati velvillig innstilling

sympatia

compaixão

сочувствие участие симпатия сострадание

naklonjenostsočutje

saosećaj

sympati

ความเห็นใจ

anlayışduygularını paylaşmahalden anlama sempati

sự thông cảm

同情同情心赞同

sympathy

[ˈsɪmpəθɪ]

A. N

1. (= compassion) → compasión f
have you no sympathy? → ¿no tiene compasión?
his sympathy for the underdog → su compasión por los desvalidos
you have my deepest sympathy → te compadezco
you won't get any sympathy from me! → ¡no me das ninguna pena!
a letter of sympathy → un pésame
I have no sympathy for him → no siento ninguna compasión or pena por él
to express one's sympathy (on the death of) → dar el pésame (por la muerte de)

2. (= agreement) → solidaridad f
they came out in sympathy with their colleagues → se declararon en huelga por solidaridad con sus colegas
I have some sympathy with this point of view → comparto en parte este punto de vista
the sympathies of the crowd were with him → la multitud estaba de su lado or lo apoyaba
the sky clouded over, in sympathy with her mood → el cielo se nubló, poniéndose así a tono con su estado de ánimo

3. sympathies (Pol) → simpatías fpl
she has expressed Republican sympathies → ha expresado sus simpatías por los republicanos

4. (= affinity) → comprensión f, afinidad f (between entre)

B. CPD sympathy strike N → huelga f de solidaridad
sympathy vote N → voto m de solidaridad

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

sympathy

[ˈsɪmpəθi]

(= compassion) → compassion f
with our deepest sympathy → avec nos sincères condoléances

(= support) → sympathie f
I have some sympathy with this point of view
BUT Je ne suis pas loin de partager ce point de vue. → J'ai une certaine sympathie pour ce point de vue.
to be in sympathy with [+ proposals, aims] → être en accord avec
to come out in sympathy with sb (= strike) → se solidariser avec qn sympathies

npl (= political inclinations) → sympathies fpl
His sympathies lie with the Liberals → Ses sympathies vont aux libéraux.

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

sympathy

(= pity, compassion) → Mitgefühl nt, → Mitleid nt → (for mit); (at death) → Beileid nt; to feel or have sympathy for somebody → Mitgefühl or Mitleid mit jdm haben; a letter of sympathy → ein mitfühlender Brief, ein Beileidsbrief m; you have our deepest or heartfelt sympathy or sympathies → wir fühlen mit Ihnen, (unser) aufrichtiges or herzliches Beileid; you have my sympathy! (hum) → herzliches Beileid (hum); my sympathies are with her family → mir tut ihre Familie leid; to express one’s sympathy → sein Mitgefühl aussprechen, sein Beileid aussprechen; you won’t get any sympathy from me → erwarte kein Mitleid von mir

(= understanding) → Verständnis nt; (= fellow-feeling, agreement) → Sympathie f; to be in/out of sympathy with somebody/something → mit jdm/etw einhergehen/nicht einhergehen; the sympathies of the crowd were with him (in match, discussion) → die Zuschauer waren auf seiner Seite; he has Democratic sympathies → er sympathisiert mit den Demokraten; politically there was a lack of sympathy between them → sie verstanden sich politisch nicht gut; to come out or strike in sympathy (Ind) → in Sympathiestreik treten; the dollar fell and the pound fell in sympathy → der Dollar fiel und das Pfund fiel mit; to resonate/vibrate in sympathy → mitklingen/-schwingen

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

sympathy

[ˈsɪmpəθɪ] n

a. (pity, compassion) → compassione f
you have my deepest sympathy or sympathies → hai tutta la mia comprensione
you won't get any sympathy from me! → non venire a piangere da me!
with our deepest sympathy → con le nostre più sincere condoglianze
a letter of sympathy → una lettera di cordoglio

b. (understanding) → comprensione f; (fellow-feeling, agreement) → solidarietà
I am in sympathy with your suggestions → mi trovo d'accordo con i tuoi suggerimenti
to strike in sympathy with sb → scioperare per solidarietà con qn

sympathy

(ˈsimpəði) noun

1. a feeling of pity or sorrow for a person in trouble. When her husband died, she received many letters of sympathy.

2. the state or feeling of being in agreement with, or of being able to understand, the attitude or feelings of another person. I have no sympathy with such a stupid attitude; Are you in sympathy with the strikers?

ˌsympaˈthetic (-ˈθetik) adjective

(negative unsympathetic) showing or feeling sympathy. She was very sympathetic when I failed my exam; a sympathetic smile.

sympaˈthetically adverb

ˈsympathize, ˈsympathise verb

to show or feel sympathy to. I find it difficult to sympathize with him when he complains so much.

sympathy

→ تَعَاطُف soucit sympati Mitgefühl συμπόνια lástima sympatia compassion simpatija comprensione 同情 동정 sympathie sympati sympatia compaixão сочувствие sympati ความเห็นใจ halden anlama sự thông cảm 同情心

sym·pa·thy

n. simpatía, asociación, relación.

1. afinidad;

2. relación entre dos órganos afines por la cual una anomalía en uno afecta al otro;

3. afinidad entre la mente y el cuerpo que causa que se afecten entre sí.

sympathy

n compasión f

References in classic literature ?

Strickland had the gift of sympathy. It is a charming faculty, but one often abused by those who are conscious of its possession: for there is something ghoulish in the avidity with which they will pounce upon the misfortune of their friends so that they may exercise their dexterity.

View in context

For my own part, I begin to love him as a brother, and his constant and deep grief fills me with sympathy and compassion.

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Whether the seamen of three hundred years hence will have the faculty of sympathy it is impossible to say.

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The emotions of man are stirred more quickly than man's intelligence; and, as I pointed out some time ago in an article on the function of criticism, it is much more easy to have sympathy with suffering than it is to have sympathy with thought.

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Feminine sympathy was new to him, and he delighted in someone who gave a willing ear to all his troubles.

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On his proud and sensitive disposition this humiliation, though it lasted only a few months, inflicted a wound which never thoroughly healed; years after he was famous he would cross the street to avoid the smell from an altogether different blacking factory, with its reminder 'of what he once was.' To this experience, also, may evidently be traced no small part of the intense sympathy with the oppressed poor, especially with helpless children, which is so prominent in his novels.

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And, ere I begin, I must ask the reader to walk with me in all sympathy; and, since sympathy is merely understanding, begin by understanding me and whom and what I write about.

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Yes, he was a noble-looking man, a noble-looking man," he repeated wistfully, and with an evident sympathy for the lovers which, I need hardly say, won my heart.

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She sighed, looking toward the door of the room where Prince Andrew was, evidently intending to express her sympathy with his sorrow, but Pierre saw by her face that she was glad both at what had happened and at the way her brother had taken the news of Natasha's faithlessness.

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A man of the present period, in Sir Patrick's position, would have struck an attitude of (what is called) chivalrous respect; and would have addressed Anne in a tone of ready-made sympathy, which it was simply impossible for a stranger really to feel.

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The feeling implied in the errand of inquiry that had brought him to the house was the one betrayal of human sympathy which escaped the rugged, impenetrable old man.

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"Yes, and nature too," said the young lady rather positively; "and I contend, that natural lore, and love from sympathy, are two distinct things."

Noun	1.	sympathy - 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" understanding inclination, tendency, disposition - an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others; "he had an inclination to give up too easily"; "a tendency to be too strict"
	2.	sympathy - sharing the feelings of others (especially feelings of sorrow or anguish) fellow feeling feeling - the experiencing of affective and emotional states; "she had a feeling of euphoria"; "he had terrible feelings of guilt"; "I disliked him and the feeling was mutual" concern - a feeling of sympathy for someone or something; "She felt strong concern for those less fortunate" kindheartedness, kind-heartedness - sympathy arising from a kind heart compassion, compassionateness - a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering commiseration, pity, pathos, ruth - a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others; "the blind are too often objects of pity" compatibility - a feeling of sympathetic understanding empathy - understanding and entering into another's feelings
	3.	sympathy - a relation of affinity or harmony between people; whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other; "the two of them were in close sympathy" kinship, affinity - a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character; "found a natural affinity with the immigrants"; "felt a deep kinship with the other students"; "anthropology's kinship with the humanities" mutual affection, mutual understanding - sympathy of each person for the other