Commiseration

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Commiseration \Com*mis`er*a"tion\, n. [F. commis['e]ration, fr.
     L. commiseratio a part of an oration intended to excite
     compassion.]
     The act of commiserating; sorrow for the wants, afflictions,
     or distresses of another; pity; compassion.
     [1913 Webster]


  
           And pluck commiseration of his state
           From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint. --Shak.
  
     Syn: See {Sympathy}.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  commiseration
       n 1: a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of
            others; "the blind are too often objects of pity" [syn:
            {pity}, {ruth}, {pathos}]
       2: an expression of sympathy with another's grief; "they sent
          their condolences" [syn: {condolence}]