There never was any heart truly great and generous,
that was not also tender and compassionate. --South.
[1913 Webster]
2. Complaining; inviting pity; pitiable. [R.] --Shak.
Syn: Sympathizing; tender; merciful; pitiful. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
compassionate — (adj.) 1580s, from COMPASSION (Cf. compassion) + ATE (Cf. ate) (2). Phrase compassionate conservatism in American political language first recorded by 1992, popularized, if not coined, by Marvin Olasky, University of Texas at Austin instructor … Etymology dictionary
Compassionate — Com*pas sion*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Compassionated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Compassionating}.] To have compassion for; to pity; to commiserate; to sympathize with. [1913 Webster] Compassionates my pains, and pities me. Addison. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
compassionate — index lenient, placable, receptive, susceptible (responsive) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
compassionate — *tender, sympathetic, warmhearted, warm, responsive Analogous words: *pitiful, piteous: merciful, *forbearing, clement, lenient: humane, benevolent, *charitable Contrasted words: merciless, unrelenting, relentless, implacable, *grim: obdurate,… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
compassionate — [adj] having tender feelings all heart, being big*, benevolent, bleeding heart*, charitable, commiserative, forbearing, going easy on*, humane, humanitarian, indulgent, kindhearted, kindly, lenient, living with, merciful, old softie*, piteous,… … New thesaurus
compassionate — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ feeling or showing compassion. DERIVATIVES compassionately adverb … English terms dictionary
compassionate — [kəm pash′ənit; ] for v [., kəm pash′ənāt΄] adj. feeling or showing compassion; sympathizing deeply; pitying vt. compassionated, compassionating to pity SYN. TENDER1 compassionately adv … English World dictionary
compassionate — [[t]kəmpæ̱ʃ(ə)nət[/t]] ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n (approval) If you describe someone or something as compassionate, you mean that they feel or show pity, sympathy, and understanding for people who are suffering. My father was a deeply compassionate… … English dictionary
compassionate — compassionately, adv. compassionateness, n. adj. /keuhm pash euh nit/; v. /keuhm pash euh nayt /, adj., v., compassionated, compassionating. adj. 1. having or showing compassion: a compassionate person; a compassionate letter. 2. granted in an… … Universalium
compassionate — com|pas|sion|ate [kəmˈpæʃənıt] adj feeling sympathy for people who are suffering ▪ a caring, compassionate man ▪ I allowed him to go home on compassionate grounds . ▪ One measure of a civilized and compassionate society is how well it treats its… … Dictionary of contemporary English
