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REFERENCE

sympathy

n.
US //ˈsɪmpəθi// UK //sˈɪmpəθi// sym·pa·thy
  1. 1 pity for others (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the feeling of being sorry for someone who is in a bad situation.

    the feeling of pity or sorrow for the distress of another person. Uncountable in its general sense, though 'sympathies' may be used in formal condolences.

    Example

    I felt great sympathy for the families who lost their homes in the flood.

    Example

    The community expressed profound sympathy for the victims, organizing a fundraiser to help them recover from the tragedy.
    Pitfall
    I have a lot of sympathy for his ideas.
    I have a lot of sympathy with his ideas.

    Use 'sympathy for' a person in pain, but 'sympathy with' an idea or cause you support.

  2. 2 agreement or support (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    support for or agreement with an idea, organization, or person.

    an inclination to support or agree with a particular opinion, cause, or party. Often used with the preposition 'with'.

    Example

    Many young people have a lot of sympathy with the environmental movement.

    Example

    Despite his official neutrality, the diplomat's private sympathies lay clearly with the rebel forces seeking democratic reform.
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  1. 3 formal condolences (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    formal expressions of sadness sent to someone after a death.

    formal expressions of regret or sorrow, typically offered to a bereaved person. Almost always used in the plural form in this context.

    Example

    We sent a card to the family to offer our deepest sympathies.

    Example

    The Prime Minister sent his deepest sympathies to the families of the soldiers lost in the recent conflict.

    Usage

    Usually appears as 'deepest sympathies' or 'sincere sympathies'.
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French sympathie, from Late Latin sympathīa (“feeling in common”), from Ancient Greek σῠμπᾰ́θειᾰ (sŭmpắtheiă, “fellow feeling”), from σῠμπᾰθής (sŭmpăthḗs, “affected by like feelings; exerting mutual influence, interacting”) + -ῐᾰ (-ĭă, “-y”, nominal suffix). Equivalent to sym- (“acting or considered together”) + -pathy (“feeling”).

Word family

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