pathetic

adjectivecommon in dialogue

//pəˈθɛtɪk//

Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.

adjective

1
Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.
The child’s pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man’s heart.
We have now arrived at one of the most pathetic and glorious events in the history of Israel, one which sanctifies the Lamanite race with the powers of martyrdom, and, by the blood of the victims, washes its garments white from many a former sin.
She held his hand in one of hers, but she too was dozing, and the two made a pretty, or rather a pathetic, picture.
There was no hospital, or any accommodation for the sick men. Each mate nursed his fellow, and some strikingly pathetic touches of devotion were shown here and there amongst them.
2
Arousing scorn or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.
You can't even run two miles? That’s pathetic.
You're almost 26 years old and you still can't hold a real job? That's pathetic.
Well you'd better think of something because middle-aged tramps aren't cute, they're pathetic.
Look, I-I hate to sound like Billy Baldwin’s agent, but you can’t just copy everything that ALEC does! It’s pathetic!”
3
obsoleteExpressing or showing anger; passionate.
On a certain Good Friday, in what year we are not told, an especially moving and pathetic sermon was preached in the Cathedral by Father John Texeda, upon the sufferings of our Lord.
4
Trochlear.

Etymology

From Middle French pathétique, from Latin patheticus, from Ancient Greek παθητικός (pathētikós, “subject to feeling, capable of feeling, impassioned”), from παθητός (pathētós, “one who has suffered, subject to suffering”), from πάσχω (páskhō, “to suffer”). By surface analysis, path- + -etic.

Forms

comparative: more pathetic
superlative: most pathetic

patent · An official document granting an appointment, privilege, or…paternity · Fatherhood, the state or quality of being a father.path · A trail for the use of, or worn by, pedestrians.

pathetic · Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.

pathological · Pertaining to pathology.pathologist · An expert in pathology; a specialist who examines samples of…pathology · The study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes,…

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