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Today it means

compassion

sympathetic pity

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Where does the word "compassion" come from? It comes from Late Latin compassio, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

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Where does the word "compassion" come from? It comes from Late Latin compassio, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Compassion’s story begins in Late Latin: compassio meant “suffering with.” 'com-' plus 'pati', to suffer. It reached English by 1300s as compassion. Came into English through French 'compassion'. Today, compassion means sympathetic pity.

  1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient compassio "suffering with", 'com-' plus 'pati', to suffer.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s compassion "fellow suffering", came into English through French 'compassion'.

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