sympathy

sympathy /sym·pa·thy/ (sim´pah-the)

1. compassion for another person's thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

2. an influence produced in any organ by disease, disorder, or other change in another part.

3. a relation which exists between people or things such that change in the state of one is reflected in the other.

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sym·pa·thy (smp-th)

n.

1. A relation between parts or organs by which a disease or disorder in one induces an effect in the other.

2. Mental contagion, as in yawning induced by seeing another person yawn.

3. Mutual understanding or affection arising from a relationship or an affinity, in which whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other.

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sympathy

[sim′pəthē]

Etymology: Gk, sympathein

1 an expressed interest or concern regarding the problems, emotions, or states of mind of another. Compare empathy.

2 the relation that exists between the mind and body, causing the one to be affected by the other.

3 mental contagion or the influence exerted by one individual or group on another and the effects produced, such as the spread of panic, uncontrollable laughter, or yawning.

4 the physiologic or pathologic relationship between two organs, systems, or parts of the body. sympathetic, adj., sympathize, v.

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sympathy,

n the kind understanding of a patient.

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sympathy

an influence produced in any organ by disease or disorder in another part. See also sympathetic ophthalmia.

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sympathy

Psychiatry A feeling or capacity for sharing in the interests or concerns of another, often without emotional attachment to the sympathy's recipient. Cf Empathy.