■ noun ( plural sympathies )
1》 feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.
↘( one's sympathies ) condolences.
2》 understanding between people; common feeling.
↘a favourable attitude.
↘( in ~ ) relating harmoniously to something else; in keeping.
3》 the state or fact of responding in a way corresponding to an action elsewhere.
Origin
C16: via L. from Gk sumpatheia , from sumpathēs , from sun- 'with' + pathos 'feeling'.
Usage
On the difference between ~ and empathy , see usage at empathy .