sympathize

Verb

sympathize (third-person singular simple present sympathizes, present participle sympathizing, simple past and past participle sympathized)

1. (Canada, US, intransitive) To have, show or express sympathy; to be affected by feelings similar to those of another, in consequence of knowing the person to be thus affected; to feel for.
   • […] the Authors having chosen for their Heroes Persons who were so nearly related to the People for whom they wrote. Achilles was a Greek, and Aeneas the remote Founder of Rome. By this Means their Countrymen (whom they principally proposed to themselves for their Readers) were particularly...1711–1714, [Joseph Addison], The Spectator, number 273; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC
   • Some old people keep young at heart in spite of wrinkles and gray hairs, can sympathize with children’s little cares and joys, make them feel at home, and can hide wise lessons under pleasant plays, giving and receiving friendship in the sweetest way.1868–1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, chapter 19, in Little Women: […], (please specify |part=1 or 2), Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   commiserate, understand

2. (Canada, US, intransitive) To support, favour, have sympathy (with a political cause or movement, a side in a conflict / in an action).
   • ‘[…] who is to hunt up my witnesses? All of them are sailors, drafted off to other ships, except those whose evidence would go for very little, as they took part, or sympathised in the affair. […]’1855, Elizabeth Gaskell, chapter 31, in North and South
   • “Whether one sympathises with the agitation for female suffrage or not one has to admit that its promoters showed tireless energy and considerable enterprise in devising and putting into action new methods for accomplishing their ends. […]”1919, Saki, “The Threat”, in The Toys of Peace and Other Papers, London: John Lane, page 150
3. (Canada, US, transitive) To say in an expression of sympathy.
   • “How much he slapped my sons—you should see their swollen faces, Panditji,” said Dukhi. […]
     “Poor children,” sympathized Pandit Lallaram.1995, Rohinton Mistry, chapter 3, in A Fine Balance, Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, page 133
4. (Canada, US, intransitive) To have a common feeling, as of bodily pleasure or pain.
   • […] the mind will sympathize so much with the anguish and debility of the body, that it will be […] too distracted to fix itself in meditation.1814, J. S. Buckminster, Sermons, Boston, Sermon 3, p. 55
5. (Canada, US, obsolete, transitive) To share (a feeling or experience).
   • And all that are assembled in this place,
     That by this sympathized one day’s error
     Have suffer’d wrong, go keep us company,
     And we shall make full satisfaction.c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
6. (Canada, US, intransitive) To agree; to be in accord; to harmonize.
   • Henry V. The southern wind
     Doth play the trumpet to his purposes,
     And by his hollow whistling in the leaves
     Foretells a tempest and a blustering day.
     Henry IV. Then with the losers let it sympathize,
     For nothing can seem foul to those that win.c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
   • It was the Winter wilde.
     While the Heav’n-born-childe,
     All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies:
     Nature in aw to him
     Had doff't her gawdy trim,
     With her great Maſter ſo to ſympathize:
     It was no ſeaſon then for her
     To wanton with the Sun her luſty Paramour.1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, “On the Morning of Christs Nativity”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC, page 2