noun

compassion

compassion, sympathy, pity

She showed great compassion for the poor.

She showed great compassion for the poor.

He felt a surge of compassion for the lost child.

He felt a surge of compassion for the lost child.

compassion for sb./sth. a feeling of sympathy for people who are suffering She has compassion for animals.

to show/feel compassion to demonstrate or experience compassion He showed no compassion for the victims.

Synonyms: sympathy, empathy, pity; Antonyms: cruelty, indifference

From Latin 'com-' (with, together) + 'pati' (to suffer). It literally means 'to suffer with'.

Break it down: 'com-' (with) + 'passion' (strong feeling/suffering). It's the feeling you have 'with' someone who is suffering.

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