sympathetic
UK: ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk | US: ˌsɪmpəˈθetɪk
adj. showing kindness or understanding toward others' feelings
adj. (of a person) easily affected by others' emotions
adj. (physiology) relating to the sympathetic nervous system
Derived from Greek sympatheia (syn- "together" + pathos "feeling"), the word evolved through Late Latin sympatheticus and French sympathétique. The morpheme sym- implies shared experience, while -path- reflects emotional resonance. Over time, it expanded from describing shared suffering (16th c.) to general emotional responsiveness (17th c.), later adopting specialized physiological meanings (19th c.).
She gave me a sympathetic smile when I explained my situation.
The teacher was sympathetic to students struggling with anxiety.
His sympathetic nature makes him an excellent counselor.
The novel’s protagonist is deeply sympathetic to marginalized groups.
The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for "fight or flight" responses.