pathos
UK: ˈpeɪθɒs | US: ˈpeɪθoʊs
n. a quality that evokes pity, sadness, or compassion
n. (in rhetoric) the emotional appeal used to persuade an audience
pathos = path<suffering> + os<noun suffix>
- path (from Greek pathos, meaning "suffering, feeling, emotion")
- os (a noun-forming suffix in Greek, often used in abstract concepts)
Etymology Origin:
The word pathos originates from Ancient Greek πάθος (pathos), meaning "suffering" or "experience." It entered English in the 17th century, retaining its core sense of emotional appeal or evocation of pity. In rhetoric, Aristotle contrasted pathos (emotional persuasion) with logos (logical argument) and ethos (ethical appeal). The morpheme path- also appears in related words like empathy (feeling with) and apathy (lack of feeling).
The film’s climax was filled with pathos, leaving the audience in tears.
The speaker used pathos effectively to connect with the crowd’s emotions.
Her story had a quiet pathos that resonated deeply.
The novel’s pathos stems from its portrayal of human vulnerability.
Critics praised the actor’s ability to convey pathos without melodrama.