empathy
Pronunciation: /ˈɛmpəθi/
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Definition of empathy
noun
Derivatives
Pronunciation: /-ˈθɛtɪk/
adjective
Pronunciation: /-ˈθɛtɪk(ə)li/
adverb
Pronunciation: /ɛmˈpaθɪk/
adjective
Pronunciation: /ɛmˈpaθ-/
adverb
Origin:
early 20th century: from Greek empatheia (from em- 'in' + pathos 'feeling') translating German Einfühlung
People often confuse the words empathy and sympathy. Empathy means ‘the ability to understand and share the feelings of another’ (as in both authors have the skill to make you feel empathy with their heroines), whereas sympathy means ‘feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune’ (as in they had great sympathy for the flood victims).