condole
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
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.
Vocabulary lists containing condole
"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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"The Monkey's Paw," Vocabulary from the short story
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"The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There will be time to collectively mourn, condole and rebuild, when they no longer are, when all communities are safe.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2025
I will definitely miss him and I condole with his family, his BBC fans and the BBC family.
From BBC • Jan. 18, 2014
We had assembled to condole with a martyr.
From Time Magazine Archive
Last week Mrs. McGuire, owner of 40 dogs herself, hurried to Long Island to condole with Poopchin and the Pekes.
From Time Magazine Archive
At the end of the performance he went home to bed; and when the principal singers called upon him soon afterwards to condole with him he was fast asleep.
From The Great Musicians: Rossini and His School by Edwards, Henry Sutherland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
