pathos

[pey-thos, -thohs, -thaws]

noun

1. the quality or power in an actual life experience or in literature, music, speech, or other forms of expression, of evoking a feeling of pity, or of sympathetic and kindly sorrow or compassion.

2. pity.

3. Obsolete.,  suffering.

pathos

/ ˈpeɪθɒs /

noun

1. the quality or power, esp in literature or speech, of arousing feelings of pity, sorrow, etc

2. a feeling of sympathy or pity

   a stab of pathos

Word History and Origins

Origin of pathos¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Greek páthos “suffering, sensation, experience,” akin to páschein “to suffer, feel, be affected”; pathetic ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pathos¹

C17: from Greek: suffering; related to penthos sorrow

Related Words

• emotion 
• passion 
• poignancy