[sym.pa.thet.ic] adj [NL sympatheticus, fr. L sympathia sympathy] (1644) 1: existing or operating through an affinity, interdependence, or mutual association
2. a: not discordant or antagonistic b: appropriate to one's mood, inclinations, or disposition c: marked by kindly or pleased appreciation
3: given to, marked by, or arising from sympathy, compassion, friendliness, and sensitivity to others' emotions "a ~ gesture"
4: favorably inclined: approving "not ~ to the idea"
5. a: showing empathy b: arousing sympathy or compassion "a ~ role in the play"
6. a: of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system b: mediated by or acting on the sympathetic nerves 7: relating to musical tones produced by sympathetic vibration or to strings so tuned as to sound by sympathetic vibration -- sym.pa.thet.i.cal.ly adv
[2]sympathetic n (1808): a sympathetic structure; esp: sympathetic nervous system