Explore

Word Etymologies

Compassion

Etymology of Compassion

The etymology of compassion reflects the idea of co-suffering, highlighting an empathetic connection where one feels and shares in the pain of another. It emphasizes a deep, active understanding of another’s plight, coupled with the desire to offer relief or support.

The word compassion originates from the Latin root compassio, which means "to suffer with." This itself is derived from:

com- (a prefix meaning "with, together")

"Com" is a prefix meaning "with," "together," or "in association," originating from Latin and appearing in words like "commit," essentially indicating a combined action or state where things are done "with" or "together." (

Reference Link⁠

)

passio (meaning "suffering" or "feeling"), which comes from the verb pati ("to suffer, endure, or bear").

Passion comes from a word meaning "to suffer," and compassion means shared suffering, with its implication of sympathy and coming together to bear the vagaries of life.

Psychology Today⁠

⁠

Historical Development:

Compassion is a Middle English word that came to us via Old French from the Late Latin compatī, meaning "to suffer with" (com - "with" + patī - "to bear"). Compassiō meant "fellow feeling." A definition might be deep sympathy and concern for the suffering or misfortune of another. (

greenhearted.org⁠

)

Latin: compassio → Literally means "to suffer together" or "to feel pain with another."

Old French: compassion → Adopted from Latin, retaining the meaning of shared suffering or deep empathy for another’s pain.

Middle English: compassioun → Borrowed from Old French, where it broadened to mean "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another’s suffering, with a desire to alleviate it."

The root pati (to suffer) is also the origin of related words like passion (originally meaning suffering, as in the "Passion of Christ") and patient (one who endures).

⁠

Key Insights Into Etymology of Compassion

The Latin root compassio emphasizes "co-suffering," reflecting a deep connection where individuals share and respond to another's pain with empathy and a desire to help.

The prefix com- ("with, together") highlights the shared nature of the experience, underscoring the relational aspect of compassion.

The root pati ("to suffer, endure, or bear") ties compassion to enduring hardship together, linking it to related concepts like passion (suffering) and patient (one who endures).

Through Old French and Middle English, the term evolved from its original meaning of "shared suffering" to include broader notions of deep sympathy, concern, and action to relieve others’ distress.

Cross-cultural interpretations of compassion, from religious to philosophical traditions, consistently emphasize shared humanity and the transformative power of addressing suffering with empathy and love.

Common Definitions of Compassion

Sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Source:

Merriam-Webster⁠

⁠

The feeling or emotion, when a person is moved by the suffering or distress of another and by the desire to relieve it. Source:

Oxford English Dictionary⁠

⁠

An emotional response in which an individual perceives another’s suffering and feels motivated to relieve that suffering. Source:

APA Dictionary of Psychology⁠

⁠

A strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them. Source:

Cambridge Dictionary⁠

⁠

A feeling prompted by the pain or suffering of another person that leads to an effort to help or alleviate the suffering. It differs from empathy in its motivation to take action. Source:

Wikipedia⁠

⁠

The feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering. Source:

Greater Good Science Center⁠

⁠

Summary

The etymology of compassion underscores its meaning as "co-suffering," highlighting an empathetic connection where one actively shares in another’s pain with the desire to offer relief. Originating from the Latin compassio ("to suffer with"), the term combines the prefix com- ("with, together") and the root pati ("to suffer, endure"). This foundation emphasizes the relational and enduring nature of compassion.

Historically, the term evolved through Old French and Middle English, broadening from its original meaning of shared suffering to encompass deep sympathy, concern, and proactive efforts to alleviate distress. Compassion retains its essence of shared humanity, often tied to the transformative power of empathy and love.

Key Themes Across Definitions:

Awareness: Recognizing another’s suffering.

Empathy: Sharing in the emotional experience of another.

Action: A proactive desire to alleviate suffering.

Distinct from related terms like sympathy (pity for another’s pain) and empathy (understanding another’s emotions), compassion uniquely combines emotional resonance with a motivation to help. This active and relational quality makes it a powerful force for both personal and collective healing.

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.