English Explanatory Dictionary

pathetic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.
  2. Arousing scorn or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
  3. Expressing or showing anger; passionate.
  4. Trochlear.

Pronunciation

/pəˈθɛtɪk/ en-us-pathetic.ogg

Word forms

pathetic more pathetic most pathetic pathetick patheticke pathetique

Etymology

From Middle French pathétique, from Latin patheticus, from Ancient Greek παθητικός (pathētikós, “subject to feeling, capable of feeling, impassioned”), from παθητός (pathētós, “one who has suffered, subject to suffering”), from πάσχω (páskhō, “to suffer”). By surface analysis, path- + -etic.

Synonyms

pathetisad pitiable pitiful wretched compassionate pathetic piteous pitisome poor rueful ruthful snivelly sorry-ass disgraceful shameful dishonorable abject filthy base beggarly blameworthy carrion cheap choical contemptible cringing damnable dedecorous degraded deplorable deridable derisible despicable despisable dirty discreditable disdainable disreputable execrable groveling hylic hylical ignoble ignominious inglorious lame laughable loathsome lousy low ludicrous mean mean-spirited miserable obscene outrageous paltry pissass plebeian punk

Related words

pathos

Derived words

hyperpathetic nonpathetic pathetically pathetic fallacy patheticism pathetic nerve patheticness pathetics telepathetic un-pathetic
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