COMMISERATION

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does commiseration mean? 

• COMMISERATION (noun)
  The noun COMMISERATION has 2 senses:

1. a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

2. an expression of sympathy with another's grief

  Familiarity information: COMMISERATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COMMISERATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

commiseration; pathos; pity; ruth

Context example:

the blind are too often objects of pity

Hypernyms ("commiseration" is a kind of...):

fellow feeling; sympathy (sharing the feelings of others (especially feelings of sorrow or anguish))

Derivation:

commiserate (to feel or express sympathy or compassion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An expression of sympathy with another's grief

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

commiseration; condolence

Context example:

they sent their condolences

Hypernyms ("commiseration" is a kind of...):

acknowledgement; acknowledgment (a statement acknowledging something or someone)

Derivation:

commiserate (to feel or express sympathy or compassion)

 Context examples 

The reverence that I had for his grey head, was mingled with commiseration for his faith in those who were treacherous to him, and with resentment against those who injured him.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Willoughby, he, whom only half an hour ago she had abhorred as the most worthless of men, Willoughby, in spite of all his faults, excited a degree of commiseration for the sufferings produced by them, which made her think of him as now separated for ever from her family, with a tenderness, a regret, rather in proportion, as she soon acknowledged within herself—to his wishes than to his merits.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Even Mr. Weston shook his head, and looked solemn, and said, Ah! poor woman, who would have thought it! and resolved, that his mourning should be as handsome as possible; and his wife sat sighing and moralising over her broad hems with a commiseration and good sense, true and steady.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

On his quitting the room she sat down, unable to support herself, and looking so miserably ill, that it was impossible for Darcy to leave her, or to refrain from saying, in a tone of gentleness and commiseration, Let me call your maid.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“She was quite overcome, I am afraid,” said Mr. Dick, with great commiseration.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

General commiseration.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

And whenever Mrs. Gummidge was overcome in a similar manner during the remainder of our stay (which happened some few times), he always said the same thing in extenuation of the circumstance, and always with the tenderest commiseration.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)