sympathetic
[sim-puh-thet-ik]
- characterized by, proceeding from, exhibiting, or feeling sympathy; sympathizing; compassionate: a sympathetic listener.
- acting or affected by, of the nature of, or pertaining to a special affinity or mutual relationship; congenial: With their many similar tastes, he found her a most sympathetic companion.
- looking upon with favor (often followed by to or toward): She is sympathetic to the project.
- Anatomy, Physiology.
- pertaining to that part of the autonomic nervous system consisting of nerves that arise from the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord, and functioning in opposition to the parasympathetic system, as in stimulating heartbeat, dilating the pupil of the eye, etc.
- Obsolete.pertaining to the autonomic nervous system in its entirety.
- Physics. noting or pertaining to vibrations, sounds, etc., produced by a body as the direct result of similar vibrations in a different body.
Show More
Origin of sympathetic
Synonyms
See more synonyms for sympathetic on Thesaurus.com1. commiserating, kind, tender, affectionate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for sympathetically
Contemporary Examples
Hellman's dishonesty in her later writing is sympathetically framed by the decades of criticism she had endured.
Lillian Hellman, Clarence Birdseye and Thai Jones: Must Read NonfictionVictoria Beale, Wendy Smith, Kevin Canfield
May 17, 2012
Historical Examples
"Better not try to describe her—while I'm by, you know," said Mrs. Drelmer, sympathetically.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
"I wonder that you take her to drive with you," suggested Philip, sympathetically.
MalboneThomas Wentworth Higginson
"I think that's a good mare of yours, Mr. Porter," said Crane, sympathetically.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
"I should say you've got a pretty good handful," Lady Pen said sympathetically.
Jan and Her JobL. Allen Harker
Polly squeezed it sympathetically, and told him how sorry she was for his accident.
Polly of Lady Gay CottageEmma C. Dowd
sympathetic
- characterized by, feeling, or showing sympathy; understanding
- in accord with the subject's personality or mood; congeniala sympathetic atmosphere
- (when postpositive, often foll by to or towards) showing agreement (with) or favour (towards)sympathetic to the proposals
- anatomy physiol of or relating to the division of the autonomic nervous system that acts in opposition to the parasympathetic system accelerating the heartbeat, dilating the bronchi, inhibiting the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, etcCompare parasympathetic
- relating to vibrations occurring as a result of similar vibrations in a neighbouring bodysympathetic strings on a sitar
Show More
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 sympathetically
sympathetic
adj.
1640s, "pertaining to sympathy," from Modern Latin sympatheticus, from Greek sympathetikos, from sympathein, from sympathes "having a fellow feeling, affected by like feelings" (see sympathy). Meaning "having fellow feeling" is recorded from 1718. In anatomical sense, the word is attested from 1769, from Modern Latin (nervus) sympathicus, coined by Jacques-Benigne Winslow (1669-1760), Danish anatomist living in Paris. Related: Sympathetically.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
sympathetic
(sĭm′pə-thĕt′ĭk)- Of, relating to, or acting on the sympathetic nervous system.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.