condole

American  

[kuhn-dohl] / kənˈdoʊl /

verb (used without object)

condoled, condoling

1. to express sympathy with a person who is suffering sorrow, misfortune, or grief (usually followed bywith ).

   to condole with a friend whose father has died.

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verb (used with object)

condoled, condoling

1. Obsolete. to grieve with.

condole British  

/ kənˈdəʊl /

verb

1. to express sympathy with someone in grief, pain, etc

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Other Word Forms

• condolatory
  adjective
• condoler
  noun
• condolingly
  adverb
• uncondolatory
  adjective
• uncondoled
  adjective
• uncondoling
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of condole

1580–90; < Late Latin condolēre, equivalent to con- con- + dolēre to feel pain; akin to dolor

Explanation

When you condole, you express your sadness at someone's death. Sending a "condolence" card is one way to condole with someone who has lost a loved one. When my dog died, I found that other dog owners were more likely to condole with me, since those friends who never had a pet had a harder time understanding how profound my loss was. There are many ways to condole when someone needs comfort after having suffered a loss. You can send a card, you can visit, bring food, or just sit with them as they grieve. If you've lost someone too, then you condole by showing empathy. If not, then you can condole by just lending an ear.

Example Sentences

"Condole with me," she said, in a broken voice, to Madame Campan; "the intriguer who wanted to ruin me, or procure money by using my name and forging my signature, has just been fully acquitted."

From Historical Tales, Vol. 6 (of 15) The Romance of Reality. French. by Morris, Charles

Alas! young knight, she weeping said, Condole my wretched fate; A childless mother here you see; A wife without a mate.

From The Book of Brave Old Ballads by Gilbert, John, Sir

"Condole with yourself and your companions who have not understood my music," was his somewhat ungracious rejoinder.

From A Book of Operas Their Histories, Their Plots, and Their Music by Krehbiel, Henry Edward

"Condole with me, ladies!" said Laquedem, lifting his hat and including them in an ironical bow; and placing July's arm in his, escorted her away.

From Old Fires and Profitable Ghosts by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

Condole with me—I have just lost another publisher—by32 failure.

From The Letters of Ambrose Bierce With a Memoir by George Sterling by Bierce, Ambrose