compassionate

  • 1Compassionate — Com*pas sion*ate, a. 1. Having a temper or disposition to pity; sympathetic; merciful. [1913 Webster] There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate. South. [1913 Webster] 2. Complaining; inviting… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2compassionate — (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

  • 3Compassionate — 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

  • 4compassionate — index lenient, placable, receptive, susceptible (responsive) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 5compassionate — *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

  • 6compassionate — [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

  • 7compassionate — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ feeling or showing compassion. DERIVATIVES compassionately adverb …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8compassionate — [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

  • 9compassionate — [[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

  • 10compassionate — 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