Word of the Day

: October 5, 2011

pathos

noun PAY-thahss

What It Means

1 : an element in experience or in artistic representation evoking pity or compassion

2 : an emotion of sympathetic pity

pathos in Context

Our knowledge of the hero's tragic end adds an element of pathos to the story of his early success.

"My books are a mixture of humor and pathos, and I hope they provide some comfort." -- Author Elizabeth Berg quoted in an article by Elizabeth Taylor in the Chicago Tribune, September 3, 2011

Did You Know?

The Greek word "pathos" means "suffering," "experience," or "emotion." It was borrowed into English in the 16th century, and for English speakers, the term usually refers to the emotions produced by tragedy or a depiction of tragedy. "Pathos" has quite a few kin in English. A "pathetic" sight moves us to pity. "Empathy" is the ability to feel the emotions of another. Though "pathology" is not literally "the study of suffering," it is "the study of diseases." You can probably guess at more relatives of "pathos." "Sympathy," "apathetic," "antipathy," "sociopath," and "psychopath" are a few.