sympathetic etymology

Etymology

The word "sympathetic" comes from the Greek word "συμπαθής" (sympathēs), which is composed of:

• συν- (syn-): "together" or "with"
• πάθος (pathos): "suffering" or "feeling"

Meaning

The word "sympathetic" has two main meanings:

Adjective

• Feeling or showing understanding or compassion for the feelings and experiences of others.
• Relating to or affecting the body's autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for unconscious bodily functions (e.g., heart rate, breathing).

Noun

• A person who is sympathetic.
• A medicine or treatment that affects the autonomic nervous system.

Origin

The word "sympathetic" was first used in English in the late 16th century. It originally referred to the ability to share or understand the feelings of others. In the 19th century, it began to be used in medicine to describe the effects of the autonomic nervous system.

sympathetic relate terms

• simpatico

  Etymology Italian simpatico Latin sympathicus Greek sympathes meaning feelin

• sympathy

  Etymology Late Middle English from Old French simpathie from Late Latin sympathia fro

• sympathy

  Etymology Late Middle English from Old French simpathie from Late Latin sympathia fro

• charitable

  Etymology The word charitable comes from the Old French word charitable which in tur

• benevolent

  Etymology The word benevolent comes from the Latin word benevolens which is a combin

• kindly

  Etymology The word kindly is derived from the Old English word cyndelic which means

• empathetic

  Etymology Empathy is derived from the Greek words empatheia ἐμπάθεια me

• commiseration

  Etymology Latin commiserari meaning to have pity on to commiserate Meaning The

• relate

  Etymology refers to the study of the origin and history of words It traces the developmen

• damper

  Etymology Middle English damper Old French dampnier Latin damnificare to cause harm

• lagniappe

  Etymology From Spanish la ñapa meaning something extra a gift from Old Spanish

• affidavit

  Etymology Latin affidavit meaning he she has sworn third person singular perfect

• shall

  Etymology Origin Old English sceal to owe be obliged from Proto Germanic skula