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sympathiesmore about sympathies

sympathies

 

  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  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}. 
 
  Fault,  Acknowledged  and  deplored,  in  Adam 
  wrought  Commiseration.  --Milton.




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