Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Sympathy

Sym′pa-thy

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Sympathies
(#)
.
[F.
sympathie
, L.
sympathia
, Gr. [GREEK];
σύν
with + [GREEK] suffering, passion, fr. [GREEK], [GREEK], 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.
They saw, but other sight instead – a crowd
Of ugly serpents! Horror on them fell,
And horrid
sympathy
.
Milton.
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
.
3.
Kindness of feeling toward one who suffers; pity; commiseration; compassion.
I value myself upon
sympathy
, I hate and despise myself for envy.
Kames.
5.
A tendency of inanimate things to unite, or to act on each other;
as, the
sympathy
between the loadstone and iron
.
[R.]
6.
Similarity of function, use office, or the like.
The adverb has most
sympathy
with the verb.
Earle.
Syn. – Pity; fellow-feeling; compassion; commiseration; tenderness; condolence; agreement.
–
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
.
Fault,
Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought
Commiseration
.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sympathy

SYM'PATHY

,
Noun.
[Gr. with, and passion.]
1.
Fellow feeling; the quality of being affected by the affection of another, with feelings by the affection of another, with feelings correspondent in kind, if not in degree. We feel sympathy for another when we see him in distress, or when we are informed of his distresses. This sympathy is a correspondent feeling of pain or regret.
Sympathy is produced through the medium of organic impression.
I value myself upon sympathy; I hate and despise myself for envy.
2.
An agreement of affections or inclinations, or a conformity of natural temperament, which makes two persons pleased with each other.
To such associations may be attributed most of the sympathies and antipathies of our nature.
3.
In medicine, a correspondence of various parts of the body in similar sensations or affections; or an affection of the whole body or some part of it, in consequence of an injury or disease of another part, or of a local affection. Thus a contusion on the head will produce nausea and vomiting. This is said to be by sympathy, or consent of parts.
4.
In natural history, a propension of inanimate things to unite, or to act on each other. Thus we say, there is a sympathy between the lodestone and iron.

Similar Results