compassion

[ kuhm-pash-uhn ]
/ kəmˈpæʃ ən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR compassion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

verb (used with object)

Archaic. to compassionate.

Origin of compassion

1300–50; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Late Latin compassiōn- (stem of compassiō). See com-, passion

OTHER WORDS FROM compassion

com·pas·sion·less, adjective un·com·pas·sion, noun un·com·pas·sioned, adjective

Words nearby compassion

compass plant, compass rafter, compass rose, compass saw, compass window, compassion, compassion club, compassion fatigue, compassionate, compassionate conservative, compaternity

Words related to compassion

mercy, empathy, tenderness, sorrow, benevolence, humanity, sympathy, kindness, grace, compunction, lenity, heart, yearning, clemency, softness, consideration, condolence, charity, commiseration, humaneness

Example sentences from the Web for compassion

British Dictionary definitions for compassion

compassion
/ (kəmˈpæʃən) /

noun

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

Word Origin for compassion

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