ENGLISH
REFERENCE

compassion

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //kəmˈpæʃən// UK //kəmpˈæʃən// com·pas·sion Archaic

n. a strong feeling of sympathy for people who are suffering and a desire to help them. You show this when you care about someone's pain and want to make it better.

n. sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others, typically accompanied by a desire to alleviate that distress.


SIMPLE

The nurse showed great compassion for her patients.

CONTEXTUAL

The charity provides food and shelter to the homeless with a spirit of deep compassion and respect.

COMPLEX

Philosophers often debate whether true compassion requires an emotional connection to the sufferer or if it can be practiced as a detached moral duty.

Synonyms
Origin

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.

Usage

Frequently used with the verbs 'show', 'feel', or 'have'; often followed by the preposition 'for'.

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