Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

compassionate

/kəmˈpæʃənət/ adjective

In Latin: misericors Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about compassionate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Having, feeling or showing compassion (to or toward someone).
The Compassionate, the All-Compassionate
Given to someone as an exception because of a family emergency or a death in their family.
compassionate leave; a compassionate visa
Inviting or asking for pity.

verb

To feel compassion (for someone or with regard to something); to regard (someone or something) with compassion.

Origin

Pseudo-Latinism, derived from a pseudo-Latin form of French compassionné, past participle of compassionner (“to feel sorry for”). By surface analysis, compassion + -ate.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word