Compassion
Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to help the physical, mental or emotional pains of another and themselves. Compassion is often regarded as having sensitivity, an emotional aspect to suffering, though when based on cerebral notions such as fairness, justice, and interdependence, it may be considered rational in nature and its application understood as an activity also based on sound judgment. There is also an aspect of equal dimension, such that individual’s compassion is often given a property of “depth”, “vigour”, or “passion”. The etymology of “compassion” is Latin, meaning “co-suffering.” Compassion involves “feeling for another” and is a precursor to empathy, the “feeling as another” capacity for better person centered acts of active compassion; in common parlance active compassion is the desire to alleviate another’s suffering.
Compassion involves allowing ourselves to be moved by suffering, and experiencing the motivation to help alleviate and prevent it. An act of compassion is defined by its helpfulness. Qualities of compassion are patience and wisdom; kindness and perseverance; warmth and resolve. It is often, though not inevitably, the key component in what manifests in the social context as altruism. Expression of compassion is prone to be hierarchical, paternalistic and controlling in responses. Difference between sympathy and compassion is that the former responds to suffering with sorrow and concern while the latter responds with warmth and care.
The English noun compassion, meaning to love together with, comes from Latin. Its prefix com- comes directly from com, an archaic version of the Latin preposition and affix cum (= with); the -passion segment is derived from passus, past participle of the deponent verb patior, patī, passus sum. Compassion is thus related in origin, form and meaning to the English noun patient (= one who suffers), from patiens, present participle of the same patior, and is akin to the Greek verb πάσχειν (= paskhein, to suffer) and to its cognate noun πάθος (= pathos). Ranked a great virtue in numerous philosophies, compassion is considered in almost all the major religious traditions as among the greatest of virtues.
Compassion (noun)
Deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it.
Compassion (verb)
To pity.
Passion (noun)
Any great, strong, powerful emotion, especially romantic love or hate.
“We share a passion for books.”
Passion (noun)
Fervor, determination.
Passion (noun)
An object of passionate or romantic love or strong romantic interest.
“It started as a hobby, but now my motorbike collection has become my passion.”
Passion (noun)
sexual intercourse, especially when very emotional
“We shared a night of passion.”
Passion (noun)
The suffering of Jesus leading up to and during his crucifixion.
Passion (noun)
A play, musical composition or display meant to commemorate the suffering of Jesus.
Passion (noun)
Suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress.
“a cardiac passion”
Passion (noun)
The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external agent or influence; a passive condition; opposed to action.
Passion (noun)
Capacity of being affected by external agents; susceptibility of impressions from external agents.
Passion (noun)
An innate quality, property, or attribute of a thing.
“… to obtain the knowledge of some passion of the circle. rfex|en”
Passion (noun)
Disorder of the mind; madness.
“He will again be well: if much you note him,
You shall offend him and extend his passion:”Passion (verb)
To suffer pain or sorrow; to experience a passion; to be extremely agitated.
Passion (verb)
To give a passionate character to.
Compassion (noun)
sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others
“the victims should be treated with compassion”
Passion (noun)
strong and barely controllable emotion
“a man of impetuous passion”
Passion (noun)
a state or outburst of strong emotion
“oratory in which he gradually works himself up into a passion”
Passion (noun)
intense sexual love
“their all-consuming passion for each other”
“she nurses a passion for Thomas”
Passion (noun)
an intense desire or enthusiasm for something
“the English have a passion for gardens”
Passion (noun)
a thing arousing great enthusiasm
“modern furniture is a particular passion of Bill’s”
Passion (noun)
the suffering and death of Jesus
“meditations on the Passion of Christ”
Passion (noun)
an account of the Passion from any of the Gospels.
Passion (noun)
a musical setting of any of the biblical accounts of the Passion
“an aria from Bach’s St Matthew Passion”