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Added 9 October 2026

pathetic

/pəˈθɛtɪk/ adjective

In Latin: miserabilis, flēbilis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about pathetic at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Deserving or inciting pity.
a hapless victim
Inspiring mixed contempt and pity.
their efforts were pathetic
Inspiring scornful pity.
how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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