commiserate [kuh -miz -uh -reyt]
Word Origin
See more synonyms for commiserate on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), com·mis·er·at·ed, com·mis·er·at·ing. to feel or express sorrow or sympathy for; empathize with; pity. Show More
verb (used without object), com·mis·er·at·ed, com·mis·er·at·ing. to sympathize (usually followed by with ): They commiserated with him over the loss of his job. Show More
Origin of commiserate 1585–95; <
Latin commiserātus (past participle of
commiserārī ), equivalent to
com- com- +
miser pitiable (see
misery ) +
-ātus -ate1 Related forms com·mis·er·a·ble , adjective com·mis·er·a·tion , noun com·mis·er·a·tive , adjective com·mis·er·a·tive·ly , adverb com·mis·er·a·tor , noun non·com·mis·er·a·tion , noun non·com·mis·er·a·tive , adjective non·com·mis·er·a·tive·ly , adverb un·com·mis·er·at·ed , adjective un·com·mis·er·at·ing , adjective un·com·mis·er·a·tive , adjective un·com·mis·er·a·tive·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for commiserable poignant ,
feeble ,
woeful ,
heartbreaking ,
miserable ,
pitiful ,
deplorable ,
sorry ,
wretched ,
distressing ,
heartrending ,
inadequate ,
lamentable ,
meager ,
melting ,
moving ,
paltry ,
petty ,
piteous ,
plaintive British Dictionary definitions for commiserable (when intr, usually foll by with ) to feel or express sympathy or compassion (for) Show More
Derived Forms commiserable , adjective commiseration , noun commiserative , adjective commiseratively , adverb commiserator , noun Word Origin for commiserate C17: from Latin commiserārī, from com- together + miserārī to bewail, pity, from miser wretched
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for commiserable v. c.1600, from Latin commiseratus , past participle of commiserari "to pity, bewail" (see commiseration ). Related: Commiserated ; commiserating . An Old English loan-translation of commiserate was efensargian .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
