Sym'pa-thy, n.

n. [Fr. sympathie, It. & Sp. simpatia, Lat. sympathia, Gr. συμπάθεια, from σύν, with, and πάθος, suffering, passion, from πάσχειν, παθεῖν, to suffer.]

1Sense 1. Feeling corresponding to that which another feels; fellow-feeling; the quality of being affected by the affection of another, with feelings correspondent in kind, if not in degree.

Sympathy is produced through the medium of organic impression. Chipman.

2Sense 2. An agreement of affections or inclinations, or a conformity of natural temperament, which makes two persons pleased with each other.

3Sense 3. Kindness of feeling toward one who suffers; pity; commiseration.

I value myself upon sympathy; I hate and despise myself for envy. Kames.

4Sense 4. (Med.) The reciprocal influence exercised by the various parts of the body on one another, so that an affection of the whole body, or of any part, is consequent upon injury, disorder, or disease of another part; thus, a tumor of the brain produces vomiting, through the sympathy existing between the brain and stomach.

5Sense 5. (Nat. Hist.) A propension of inanimate things to unite, or to act on each other; thus we say, there is a sympathy between the loadstone and iron. [Rare.]

Synonyms—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.