Where does “pathetic” come from?
Pathetic derives from Middle French pathétique, from Latin patheticus, from Ancient Greek παθητικός, rooted in παθος meaning suffering or emotion, ultimately from Ancient Greek πάσχω meaning to suffer.
pathetic (English): Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; Arousing...
Definitions
- Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; Arousing...
Ancestry of “pathetic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle French | pathétique | — |
| 2 | Latin | pathēticus | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | παθητικός | Subject to feeling or passion: sensitive; Full of... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | πάθος | pain, suffering, death; misfortune, calamity,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πάσχω | to undergo, experience; have someone do something... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰendʰ- | to bind; bond |
Words derived from “pathetic”