Commiserate

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: kÉ™mĭʹzÉ™rÉ™t, IPA: /kəˈmɪzəɹət/

From commiserātus, the perfect passive participle of commiseror.

Full definition of commiserate

Adjective

1. (obsolete, rare) commiserating, pitying, lamentful
• 1593: Thomas Nashe, Christ’s Teares over Jerusalem, page 157 (1815 edited republication)In the time of Gregory Nazianzene, if we may credit ecclesiastical records, there sprung up the direfulest mortality in Rome that mankind hath been acquainted with; scarce able were the living to bury the dead, and not so much but their streets were digged up for graves, which this holy Father (with no little commiserate heart-bleeding) beholding, commanded all the clergy (for he was at that time their chief bishop) to assemble in prayer and supplications, and deal forcingly beseeching with God, to intermit his fury and forgive them.

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: kÉ™mĭʹzÉ™rāt, IPA: /kəˈmɪzəɹeɪt/

Modelled upon commiserāt-, the perfect passive participial stem of the Latin commiseror.

Alternative forms

Verb

1. (transitive) To feel or express compassion or sympathy for (someone or something).
2. (ambitransitive) To offer condolences jointly with; express sympathy with.
3. (intransitive, as the phrasal verb commiserate with) To sympathize; condole.

Derived terms

• commiserating, commiseratingly
• commiseration

Related terms

• misery