Dictionary

commiserate en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• kəmĭʹzərət (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Australia) audio
• /kəˈmɪzəɹət/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From commiserātus, the perfect passive participle of commiseror.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable, obsolete, rare) Commiserating, pitying, lamentful.
   • In the time of Gregory Nazianzene, if we may credit ecclesiastical records, there sprung up the direfulest mortality in Rome that mankind hath been acquainted with; scarce able were the living to bury the dead, and not so much but their streets were digged up for graves, which this holy Father (with no little commiserate heart-bleeding) beholding, commanded all the clergy (for he was at that time their chief bishop) to assemble in prayer and supplications, and deal forcingly beseeching with God, to intermit his fury and forgive them. 1593: Thomas Nashe, Christ’s Teares over Jerusalem, page 157 (1815 edited republication)

commiserate en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /kəˈmɪzəɹeɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• kəmĭʹzərāt (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From the above adjective, see at -ate for more.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To feel or express compassion or sympathy for (someone or something).
   • A few individuals who commiserated the unhappy condition of British negro slaves.
   • Lord Meersbrook had remarked the same woman a day or two before, peering into the area, as if looking for some of the servants, yet neither venturing to ring nor knock; he concluded she was there for no good, but the self-commiserating tone in which she spoke, together with her Irish accent, now caught his ear;... 1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXXVI, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 160:
2. (as the phrasal verb commiserate with, intransitive) To sympathize; condole.
3. (ambitransitive) To offer condolences jointly with; express sympathy with.

Forms

Deriveds

uncommiserated · commiserative · commiseratingly · commiserator · uncommiserating · dot-commiserate · commiserating · commiseration

Relateds

misery · immiserate · immiseration

Synonyms

compassionate · feel sorry for · pity · compassion · take pity · compassionate · commiserate · feel sorry for · rue · mercify · feel someone's pain · condole

Translations (24)

uk співчувати (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · bg окая (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · pl wyrażać współczucie (to offer condolences) · pl współczuć (to sympathize, condole) · ko 위로를 표하다 (to offer condolences) · bg окая (to sympathize, condole) · bg съчувствам (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · it commiserare (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · bg съчувствам (to sympathize, condole) · bg окайвам (to sympathize, condole) · bg съжалявам (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · no kondolere (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · bg съжалявам (to sympathize, condole) · bg съжаля (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · fi ottaa osaa (to sympathize, condole) · fi ottaa osaa (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · bg окайвам (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · it compatire (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · ru сочу́вствовать (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · bg съжаля (to sympathize, condole) · ru соболе́зновать (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · pl współczuć (to feel or express compassion or sympathy) · fi ottaa osaa (to offer condolences) · pl wyrazić współczucie (to offer condolences)