sympathetically
UK: ˌsɪm.pəˈθet.ɪ.kli | US: ˌsɪm.pəˈθet̬.ɪ.kli
adv. in a manner showing kindness or understanding toward others' feelings
adv. in a way that expresses shared emotion or agreement
sympathetically = sym<together> + path<feeling> + etical<adjective suffix> + ly<adverb suffix>
- sym<together>: From Greek syn-, meaning "with" or "together."
- path<feeling>: From Greek pathos, meaning "suffering" or "emotion."
- etical<adjective suffix>: Derived from -etic (adjective-forming suffix) + -al (pertaining to).
- ly<adverb suffix>: Converts adjectives into adverbs.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Greek sympatheia ("fellow feeling"), combining syn- (together) and pathos (feeling). Over time, it evolved through Latin sympathia and French sympathie before entering English as "sympathy." The adverbial form sympathetically emerged by adding -ly to the adjective sympathetic, which itself stems from sympathy + -etic + -al. The core idea of shared emotion or compassion remains central.
She listened sympathetically to his struggles.
The teacher nodded sympathetically when the student explained his absence.
He spoke sympathetically about the challenges faced by refugees.
The audience reacted sympathetically to the character's plight.
Despite their differences, they responded sympathetically to each other's viewpoints.