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.
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.
4. (Physiol.) (a) The
reciprocal influence exercised by the various organs or parts of the
body on one another, as manifested in the transmission of a disease by
unknown means from one organ to another quite remote, or in the
influence exerted by a diseased condition of one part on another part
or organ, as in the vomiting produced by a tumor of the brain.
(b) 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.
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.
Sym"pa*thy, n. (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.
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.
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.
4. (Physiol.) (a) The
reciprocal influence exercised by the various organs or parts of the
body on one another, as manifested in the transmission of a disease by
unknown means from one organ to another quite remote, or in the
influence exerted by a diseased condition of one part on another part
or organ, as in the vomiting produced by a tumor of the brain.
(b) 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.
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.
Sym"pa*thy, n. (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.
