Sympathetic — Sym pa*thet ic, a. [See {Sympathy}, and cf. {Pathetic}.] 1. Inclined to sympathy; sympathizing. [1913 Webster] Far wiser he, whose sympathetic mind Exults in all the good of all mankind. Goldsmith. [1913 Webster] 2. Produced by, or expressive of … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
sympathetic — in the meaning ‘eliciting sympathy’ rather than ‘feeling sympathy’, dates from the beginning of the 20c. Despite Fowler s reservations (he wrote in 1926 when it was still a new meaning), it has become rapidly established in standard English: •… … Modern English usage
sympathetic — [adj1] concerned, feeling affectionate, all heart*, appreciating, benign, benignant, caring, commiserating, compassionate, comprehending, condoling, considerate, having heart in right place*, interested, kind, kindhearted, kindly, loving, pitying … New thesaurus
sympathetic — index charitable (lenient), concerted, concordant, consensual, lenient, open (persuasible), pati … Law dictionary
sympathetic — 1640s, pertaining to sympathy, from Mod.L. sympatheticus, from Gk. sympathetikos, from sympathein, from sympathes having a fellow feeling, affected by like feelings (see SYMPATHY (Cf. sympathy)). Meaning having fellow feeling is recorded from… … Etymology dictionary
sympathetic — 1 *consonant, congenial, congruous, compatible, consistent Analogous words: agreeing, harmonizing or harmonious, accordant, correspondent (see corresponding verbs at AGREE) 2 *tender, compassionate, warm, warmhearted, responsive Analogous words:… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
sympathetic — ► ADJECTIVE 1) feeling, showing, or expressing sympathy. 2) showing approval of an idea or action. 3) pleasing, likeable, or sensitively designed. 4) Physiology referring to the part of the autonomic nervous system supplying the internal organs,… … English terms dictionary
sympathetic — adj. VERBS ▪ appear, be, feel, look, seem, sound ▪ become ▪ find sb ▪ … Collocations dictionary
sympathetic — I. adjective Etymology: New Latin sympatheticus, from Latin sympathia sympathy Date: 1644 1. existing or operating through an affinity, interdependence, or mutual association 2. a. appropriate to one s mood, inclinations, or disposition b. marked … New Collegiate Dictionary
sympathetic — sym|pa|thet|ic [ˌsımpəˈθetık] adj 1.) caring and feeling sorry about someone s problems ▪ a sympathetic friend ▪ a sympathetic attitude sympathetic to/towards ▪ I m sympathetic to parents who are worried about what their children see on… … Dictionary of contemporary English
