Commiseration

/kəˌmɪzəˈreɪʃən/ noun

Definition

Sympathy and sorrow felt or expressed for someone who is suffering from misfortune or unhappiness.

Etymology

From Latin commiseratio, from commiserari 'to pity together.' The noun form developed in Middle English and has been used continuously since.

Kelly Says

Anthropologists note that commiseration is one of humanity's oldest social tools—archaeological evidence suggests mourning rituals and shared grief have bonded humans for over 100,000 years.

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