English Explanatory Dictionary

compassionate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Having, feeling or showing compassion (to or toward someone).
  2. Given to someone as an exception because of a family emergency or a death in their family.
  3. Inviting or asking for pity.
verb
  1. To feel compassion (for someone or with regard to something); to regard (someone or something) with compassion.

Pronunciation

/kəmˈpæʃənət/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-compassionate.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-compassionate.wav /kəmˈpæʃəneɪt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-compassionate2.wav

Word forms

compassionate more compassionate most compassionate compassionates compassionating compassionated

Etymology

A pseudo-Latin form of French compassionné, past participle of compassionner (“feel sorry for”). By surface analysis, compassion + -ate.

Synonyms

empathetic sympathetic ruthful piteous pitiable compassionate pathetic pathetisad pitiful pitisome poor rueful snivelly sorry-ass pity feel sorry for commiserate compassion condole feel someone's pain mercify rue take pity

Derived words

compassionate conservatism compassionate conservativism compassionate leave compassionately compassionateness compassionate use discompassionate incompassionate noncompassionate overcompassionate uncompassionate uncompassionated uncompassionating
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