See Also: sympathy(medicine)
sympathy(dictionary)
sympathy(dictionary)

sympathy (iou)



sympathy noun. L16.
[Latin sympathia (whence French sympathie) from Greek sumpatheia, from sumpathes having a fellow-feeling, formed as SYM- + base of PATHOS: see -Y3.]
a. An affinity or correspondence between particular subjects enabling the same influence to affect each subject similarly or each subject to affect or influence the other, esp. in a paranormal way. Now chiefly Hist. or as passing into other senses. L16.
W. G. Black That doctrine of sympathy which accompanies all remedies by association.
b. Physiology & Medicine. A relation between two organs or parts (or between two people) such that a disorder or condition of the one induces a corresponding condition in the other. Now rare. E17.
Agreement, accord; esp. agreement in qualities; correspondence. obsolete exc. as passing into sense 3a. L16.
Shakespeare Othello There should be..sympathy in years, manners and beauties.
a. Concordance or harmony of inclinations or temperament, making people congenial to one another; mutuality or community of feeling. L16.
G. Tindall There had always been a lot of understanding and sympathy between them.
b. The quality or state of being affected by the suffering or grief of another; a feeling or expression of compassion or condolence. Freq. foll. by for, with. E17.
tea and sympathy: see TEA noun 1.
R. Congreve Our sympathies to the unborn generations which..shall follow us. J. Frame I'm writing to express my sympathy with you in your loss of a brother.
c. gen. The quality or state of being affected with a feeling similar or corresponding to that of another; the fact or capacity of sharing or being responsive to the feelings or condition of another or others; an instance of this. Freq. foll. by with. M17.
P. Fussell His..complex comic sympathy for poor middle-class Evans.
d. sing. & in pl. A favourable attitude towards a party, cause, etc.; inclination to favour or support; agreement with or approval of an opinion, aim, etc. Freq. foll. by with. E19.
M. Meyer He disinherited Raymond and his sister because of their left-wing sympathies.
Phrases: in sympathy (a) having or expressing or resulting from sympathy (with another); (b) by way of sympathetic action; spec. (of a commodity price) rising or falling in response to another commodity's price movement or to an event or circumstance affecting the market.
Comb.: sympathy card a printed card expressing condolence on a bereavement; sympathy strike = sympathetic strike s.v. SYMPATHETIC adjective; sympathy striker a person taking part in a sympathetic strike.
sympathist noun (rare) a person who sympathizes, a sympathizer E19.