pathos

American  

[pey-thos, -thohs, -thaws] / ˈpeɪ θɒs, -θoʊs, -θɔs /

noun

1. the quality or power in an actual life experience or in literature, music, speech, or other forms of expression, of evoking a feeling of pity, or of sympathetic and kindly sorrow or compassion.

2. pity.

3. Obsolete. suffering.

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pathos British  

/ ˈpeɪθɒs /

noun

1. the quality or power, esp in literature or speech, of arousing feelings of pity, sorrow, etc

2. a feeling of sympathy or pity

   a stab of pathos

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Etymology

Origin of pathos

First recorded in 1570–80; from Greek páthos “suffering, sensation, experience,” akin to páschein “to suffer, feel, be affected”; pathetic ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does pathos compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• pathos vs. ethos

Example Sentences

Braff: I think that it’s Bill’s unique mix of comedy and pathos and emotion and fantasy.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead it ventures into something creator Seth MacFarlane and company usually avoid, genuine pathos.

From The Wall Street Journal

As a reader might gather, “Neighbors” falls into the category of what is unkindly categorized as freak-show documentary—the characters are objects of morbid curiosity or, maybe, pathos.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s a certain tone in my voice, a register he didn’t want me to use, a register I often use for pathos or gravitas.

From Los Angeles Times

Gertrude never quite comes into focus, but the pathos of Ophelia, maddened by grief, is enhanced by the simple yet forceful way Izzard helplessly pounds her chest.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• emotion
• passion
• poignancy