compassionate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for people who are suffering.

   She spoke in a soft and compassionate voice.

2. 2
   adj

   Given as an exception because of a family emergency or a death in the family.

   He took compassionate leave after his father passed away.

3. 3
   verb

   To feel compassion for someone; to regard them with sympathy.

   She compassionated the refugees and gave whatever she could spare.

A pseudo-Latin form of French compassionné, past participle of compassionner (“feel sorry for”). By surface analysis, compassion + -ate.

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