2. To feel in consequence of what another feels; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in
consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected.
Their countrymen . . . sympathized with their heroes in all their adventures.
Addison. 3. To agree; to be in accord; to harmonize. Dryden.
Sympathize
(Sym"pa*thize), v. t.
1. To experience together. [Obs.] "This sympathized . . . error." Shak.
2. To ansew to; to correspond to. [Obs.] Shak.
Sympathizer
(Sym"pa*thi`zer) n. One who sympathizes.
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. — 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.
