Dictionary Quotes
Emotional Literacy Education Course 101:
Lesson One: What Is Emotional Literacy?
by Mark Zimmerman

The American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition, definition for empathy is the, "identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings and motives."

Empathy is comprised of the suffix pathy, the dictionary continues, which means, "feeling; suffering; perception."

Pathy comes from the Greek word pathos, the dictionary continues, which means, "as of an experience or a work of art, that arouses feelings. Feelings of sympathy, tenderness, or sorrow."

The dictionary continues, and sympathy means, "A relationship or an affinity between people or things in which whatever affects one correspondingly affects the other."

The dictionary definition continues, sympathy is a, "mutual understanding or affection arising from this relationship or affinity."

The dictionary continues, "The act or power of sharing the feelings of another."

The definition continues, "A feeling or an expression of pity or sorrow for the distress of another."

Sympathy, the dictionary continues, means, "Harmonious agreement."