The term “empathy” comes from the Greek word “empatheia,” which means “passion” or “state of emotion.” This is derived from the Greek roots “en-” meaning “in” and “pathos,” meaning “feeling” or “suffering.”
1. Proto-Indo-European (PIE)
The PIE root “*kwent(h)-” means “to suffer.”
2. Greek
From the PIE root, the Greek word “pathos” developed, meaning “feeling” or “suffering.” The prefix “en-” (in) was combined with “pathos” to form “empatheia,” meaning “passion” or “state of emotion.”
3. Modern Greek to Modern English (Early 20th century)
The Greek term “empatheia” was adopted into English in the early 20th century, evolving into “empathy,” to describe the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Phonetic Evolution
The pronunciation of “empathy” has remained relatively stable from its Greek origins to Modern English.
Usage Examples
- “Empathy is often used to describe the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.”
- “Another example of ’empathy’ in a sentence is ‘Her empathy for others makes her a compassionate and effective leader.'”
Cultural or Historical Notes
The development of the word “empathy” was significantly influenced by psychological studies in the early 20th century, particularly in the fields of psychoanalysis and humanistic psychology. The term was used to describe a deeper level of understanding and connection between individuals.
The word “empathy” reflects the concept of emotional understanding and connection, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and sharing the feelings of others in fostering compassion, cooperation, and effective communication in various aspects of human relationships and society.