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commiserate

[kuh-miz-uh-reyt]
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verb (used with object), com·mis·er·at·ed, com·mis·er·at·ing.
  1. to feel or express sorrow or sympathy for; empathize with; pity.
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verb (used without object), com·mis·er·at·ed, com·mis·er·at·ing.
  1. to sympathize (usually followed by with): They commiserated with him over the loss of his job.
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Origin of commiserate

1585–95; < Latin commiserātus (past participle of commiserārī), equivalent to com- com- + miser pitiable (see misery) + -ātus -ate1
Related formscom·mis·er·a·ble, adjectivecom·mis·er·a·tion, nouncom·mis·er·a·tive, adjectivecom·mis·er·a·tive·ly, adverbcom·mis·er·a·tor, nounnon·com·mis·er·a·tion, nounnon·com·mis·er·a·tive, adjectivenon·com·mis·er·a·tive·ly, adverbun·com·mis·er·at·ed, adjectiveun·com·mis·er·at·ing, adjectiveun·com·mis·er·a·tive, adjectiveun·com·mis·er·a·tive·ly, adverb
Can be confusedcommensurate commiserate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

poignantfeeblewoefulheartbreakingmiserablepitifuldeplorablesorrywretcheddistressingheartrendinginadequatelamentablemeagermeltingmovingpaltrypettypiteousplaintive
British Dictionary definitions for commiserable

commiserate

verb
  1. (when intr, usually foll by with) to feel or express sympathy or compassion (for)
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Derived Formscommiserable, adjectivecommiseration, nouncommiserative, adjectivecommiseratively, adverbcommiserator, noun

Word Origin

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for commiserable

commiserate

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