compassion
English
Etymology
From Middle English compassioun, compassion, from Old French compassion, from Ecclesiastical Latin compassio (“sympathy”), from Latin compati, past participle compassus (“to suffer together with”), from com- (“together”) + pati (“to suffer”); see passion.
Pronunciation
- (UK, US) IPA(key): /kəmˈpæʃ.ən/
- Rhymes: -æʃən
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
compassion (usually uncountable, plural compassions)
- Deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it.
- 1849, Robert Leighton (Archbishop of Glasgow), A practical commentary upon the first Epistle of St. Peter (page 47)
- Oh! the unspeakable privilege to have Him for our Father, who is the Father of mercies and compassions, and those not barren, fruitless pityings, for He is withal the God of all consolations.
- 1977, David Byrne (lyrics and music), “No Compassion”, in Talking Heads: 77, performed by Talking Heads:
- Other people's problems, they overwhelm my mind / They say compassion is a virtue, but I don't have the time
- 2002, Werner J. Krieglstein, Compassion: A New Philosophy of the Other, page 149:
- In many ways, people today lack compassion as a way to internalize and experience the inner soul of the other person, animals, and the universe. We need to reintroduce compassion so humanity may survive.
- 2008, Richard Reilly, Ethics of Compassion: Bridging Ethical Theory and Religious Moral Discourse, page 1:
- Ethics of compassion are grounded in one's mindful commitment to one's own happiness with the recognition that the well being that one wishes for oneself also is wished for by others.
- 2020 January 28, “My Understanding Of What It Means to Be Compassionate”, in Minghui:
- From Master's words, I understand that having compassion does not mean allowing people to take advantage of us. We can be kind but we should uphold moral values.
- 1849, Robert Leighton (Archbishop of Glasgow), A practical commentary upon the first Epistle of St. Peter (page 47)
Synonyms
- (deep awareness of another's suffering): empathy, mercy, ruth, pity, sorrow, tenderheartedness
- (desire to relieve another's suffering): kindness, heart, mercy, ruth, tenderheartedness
Derived terms
- compassionable
- compassionate
- compassion fatigue
Related terms
- compatible
- passion
Translations
deep awareness of the suffering of another
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Verb
compassion (third-person singular simple present compassions, present participle compassioning, simple past and past participle compassioned)
- (obsolete) To pity.
- c. 1588–1593, William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene i], line 124:
- O heavens, can you hear a good man groan / And not relent, or not compassion him?
- 1830, The Last of the Supernaturalists, in James Fraser (editor), Fraser's Magazine, Volume 1, page 226,
- Both wanted in early life the one thing essential to every individual, of whatever nature or degree of intellect, a kind, compassioning adviser; - a true friend; […] .
- 1836, William A. Brewer, The Widow's Son, in Recreations of a Merchant; Or, The Christian Sketch-book, page 27:
- The widow's tears flowed wildly. / But Oh! a harbinger of life approached — / God, manifest in flesh — compassioned her, / And bade her weep no more.
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Further reading
- compassion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- compassion in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin compassiō, compassiōnem, from Latin compatior.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kɔ̃.pa.sjɔ̃/, /kɔ̃.pɑ.sjɔ̃/
Audio (file)
Noun
compassion f (plural compassions)
- compassion, pity
Related terms
- compatir
- passion
Further reading
- “compassion”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Middle English
Noun
compassion
- Alternative form of compassioun