sympathy

Where does the word "sympathy" come from? It comes from Greek sympatheia, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1570s).

Sympathy’s story begins in Greek: sympatheia meant “fellow feeling.” 'syn', together, plus 'pathos', feeling; Stoics used it for the cosmic interconnectedness of things. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as sympathia. An affinity between things. It reached English by 1570s as sympathy. First a natural affinity, then compassion for suffering. Today, sympathy means feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient sympatheia "fellow feeling", 'syn', together, plus 'pathos', feeling; Stoics used it for the cosmic interconnectedness of things.
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · ancient sympathia "affinity", an affinity between things.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1570s sympathy "compassion", first a natural affinity, then compassion for suffering.