'Sympathy' definitions:
Definition of 'sympathy'
From: WordNet
noun
An inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion; "his sympathies were always with the underdog"; "I knew I could count on his understanding" [syn: sympathy, understanding]
noun
Sharing the feelings of others (especially feelings of sorrow or anguish) [syn: sympathy, fellow feeling]
noun
A relation of affinity or harmony between people; whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other; "the two of them were in close sympathy"
Definition of 'Sympathy'
From: GCIDE
- Sympathy \Sym"pa*thy\, n.; pl. Sympathies. [F. sympathie, L. sympathia, Gr. ?; sy`n with + ? suffering, passion, fr. ?, ?, to suffer. See Syn-, and Pathos.]
- 1. Feeling corresponding to that which another feels; the quality of being affected by the affection of another, with feelings correspondent in kind, if not in degree; fellow-feeling. [1913 Webster]
- They saw, but other sight instead -- a crowd Of ugly serpents! Horror on them fell, And horrid sympathy. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. An agreement of affections or inclinations, or a conformity of natural temperament, which causes persons to be pleased, or in accord, with one another; as, there is perfect sympathy between them. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Kindness of feeling toward one who suffers; pity; commiseration; compassion. [1913 Webster]
- I value myself upon sympathy, I hate and despise myself for envy. --Kames. [1913 Webster]
- 4. (Physiol. & Med.) (a) The reciprocal influence exercised by organs or parts on one another, as shown in the effects of a diseased condition of one part on another part or organ, as in the vomiting produced by a tumor of the brain. (b) The influence of a certain psychological state in one person in producing a like state in another.
- Note: In the original 1890 work, sense (b) was described as: "That relation which exists between different persons by which one of them produces in the others a state or condition like that of himself. This is shown in the tendency to yawn which a person often feels on seeing another yawn, or the strong inclination to become hysteric experienced by many women on seeing another person suffering with hysteria." [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]
- 5. A tendency of inanimate things to unite, or to act on each other; as, the sympathy between the loadstone and iron. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- 6. Similarity of function, use office, or the like. [1913 Webster]
- The adverb has most sympathy with the verb. --Earle. [1913 Webster]
- Syn: Pity; fellow-feeling; compassion; commiseration; tenderness; condolence; agreement.
- Usage: Sympathy, Commiseration. Sympathy is literally a fellow-feeling with others in their varied conditions of joy or of grief. This term, however, is now more commonly applied to a fellow-feeling with others under affliction, and then coincides very nearly with commiseration. In this case it is commonly followed by for; as, to feel sympathy for a friend when we see him distressed. The verb sympathize is followed by with; as, to sympathize with a friend in his distresses or enjoyments. "Every man would be a distinct species to himself, were there no sympathy among individuals." --South. See Pity. [1913 Webster]
- Fault, Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought Commiseration. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'sympathy'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abetment,
- accord,
- accordance,
- addition,
- adduction,
- adjunct,
- advocacy,
- aegis,
- affairs,
- affectionateness,
- affections,
- affective faculty,
- affectivity,
- affiliation,
- affinity,
- agape,
- agreement,
- aid and comfort,
- allergy,
- alliance,
- allurement,
- amity,
- an in,
- anaphylaxis,
- approximation,
- assemblage,
- association,
- assurance,
- attractance,
- attraction,
- attractiveness,
- attractivity,
- auspices,
- backing,
- balm,
- benevolence,
- benignancy,
- benignity,
- bent,
- bias,
- blending,
- bond,
- bonds of harmony,
- brotherhood,
- brotherly love,
- camaraderie,
- capillarity,
- capillary attraction,
- care,
- caring,
- caritas,
- cement of friendship,
- centripetal force,
- championship,
- charity,
- chiming,
- chord,
- clemency,
- closeness,
- combination,
- comfort,
- commiseration,
- communion,
- community,
- community of interests,
- compassion,
- compatibility,
- concern,
- concord,
- concordance,
- condolement,
- condolence,
- congeniality,
- connectedness,
- connection,
- considerateness,
- consolation,
- consonant,
- contiguity,
- contrariety,
- correspondence,
- countenance,
- dealings,
- deduction,
- delicacy,
- disjunction,
- drag,
- draw,
- easement,
- echo,
- emotional life,
- emotions,
- empathy,
- encouragement,
- esprit,
- esprit de corps,
- exquisiteness,
- fancy,
- fascination,
- favor,
- favorable regard,
- feeling,
- feeling of identity,
- feeling of kinship,
- feeling tone,
- feelings,
- fellow feeling,
- fellowship,
- filiation,
- fineness,
- finer feelings,
- forbearance,
- forgiveness,
- fosterage,
- fraternal feeling,
- frictionlessness,
- friendly relations,
- good graces,
- good terms,
- good understanding,
- good vibes,
- good vibrations,
- goodness,
- goodness of heart,
- goodwill,
- grace,
- graciousness,
- gravitation,
- gravity,
- guidance,
- happy family,
- harmonic,
- harmony,
- heart,
- heart of gold,
- homology,
- humaneness,
- humanity,
- hyperesthesia,
- hyperpathia,
- hypersensitivity,
- identification,
- identity,
- inclination,
- intercourse,
- interest,
- intimacy,
- involvement,
- irritability,
- junction,
- kindheartedness,
- kindliness,
- kindly disposition,
- kindness,
- kinship,
- leaning,
- leniency,
- liaison,
- like-mindedness,
- link,
- linkage,
- linking,
- love,
- loving kindness,
- magnetism,
- mercy,
- mitigation,
- musical,
- mutual affinity,
- mutual attraction,
- mutual regard,
- mutuality,
- nearness,
- nervousness,
- niceness,
- oneness,
- oversensibility,
- oversensitiveness,
- overtenderness,
- pardon,
- partiality,
- passibility,
- passions,
- pathos,
- patronage,
- peace,
- penchant,
- perceptiveness,
- perceptivity,
- photophobia,
- pity,
- predilection,
- preference,
- prickliness,
- proclivity,
- propensity,
- propinquity,
- proximity,
- pull,
- pulling power,
- quarter,
- rapport,
- rapprochement,
- reassurance,
- reciprocity,
- regard,
- relatedness,
- relating,
- relation,
- relations,
- relationship,
- relief,
- reprieve,
- respect,
- response,
- responsiveness,
- rue,
- ruth,
- seconding,
- self-pity,
- sensibilities,
- sensitiveness,
- sensitivity,
- sensitization,
- sentiments,
- sharing,
- sharing of grief,
- shred of comfort,
- similarity,
- softheartedness,
- solace,
- solacement,
- solicitousness,
- solidarity,
- soothing words,
- soreness,
- soul of kindness,
- sponsorship,
- supersensitivity,
- support,
- susceptibilities,
- sympathetic chord,
- sympathetic response,
- sympathies,
- symphonic,
- symphonious,
- symphony,
- tact,
- tactfulness,
- team spirit,
- tender susceptibilities,
- tenderheartedness,
- tenderness,
- tetchiness,
- thin skin,
- ticklishness,
- tie,
- tie-in,
- touchiness,
- traction,
- tug,
- turn,
- tutelage,
- understanding,
- union,
- unison,
- unity,
- vibes,
- vibrations,
- warmheartedness,
- warmth,
- warmth of heart