empathize

UK: ˈem.pə.θaɪz | US: ˈem.pə.θaɪz

Definition

  1. vi. to understand and share the feelings of another

  2. vt. to project oneself into another’s emotional experience

Structure
em <in>path <feeling>ize <verb suffix>
Etymology

The word "empathize" combines three morphemes:

  1. "em-" (from Greek "en," meaning "in")
  2. "path" (from Greek "pathos," meaning "feeling" or "suffering")
  3. "-ize" (a verb-forming suffix indicating action or process).

Originally rooted in Greek "empatheia" (emotional understanding), the term evolved through German "Einfühlung" (literally "feeling into") before being anglicized as "empathy" in the early 20th century. The verb form "empathize" emerged later, emphasizing the active process of emotional connection. The morphemes logically progress from spatial ("in") to emotional ("feeling") to action ("-ize"), mirroring the psychological act of stepping into another's experience.

Examples

  1. Therapists train to empathize with clients without losing objectivity.

  2. Great leaders empathize with their team's challenges.

  3. The novel's strength lies in how readers empathize with the protagonist.

  4. Children learn to empathize through role-playing games.

  5. AI cannot truly empathize, though it may simulate emotional responses.