compassionate

com·pas·sion·ate

[adj. kuhm-pash-uh-nit; v. kuhm-pash-uh-neyt] adjective, verb, com·pas·sion·at·ed, com·pas·sion·at·ing.
adjective
1.
having or showing compassion: a compassionate person; a compassionate letter.
2.
granted in an emergency: compassionate military leave granted to attend a funeral.
3.
Obsolete, pitiable.
verb (used with object)
4.
Archaic. to pity or have compassion for.

Origin:
1580–90; compassion + -ate1

com·pas·sion·ate·ly, adverb
com·pas·sion·ate·ness, noun
un·com·pas·sion·ate, adjective
un·com·pas·sion·ate·ly, adverb
un·com·pas·sion·ate·ness, noun


1. pitying, sympathizing, sympathetic, tender.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Compassionate is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.
to bark; yelp.
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World English Dictionary
compassionate (kəmˈpæʃənət) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  showing or having compassion
2.  compassionate leave leave granted, esp to a serviceman, on the grounds of bereavement, family illness, etc
 
com'passionately
 
adv
 
com'passionateness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

compassionate
1580s, from compassion. Phrase compassionate conservatism in American political language first recorded by 1992, popularized, if not coined, by Marvin Olasky, University of Texas at Austin instructor.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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