different between comfortless vs pathetic

English

Etymology

comfort +? -less

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?m.f?t.l?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?k?m.f?t.l?s/

Adjective

comfortless (comparative more comfortless, superlative most comfortless)

1. (of a person) Deprived of comfort; uncomforted.
   • 1611, King James Version of the Bible, John 14:18,^[1]

     I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

   • c. 1612, William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, Henry VIII, Act II, Scene 3,^[2]

     The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful

     In our long absence: pray, do not deliver

     What here you've heard to her.

   • 1862, Christina Rossetti, “Mirage” in Goblin Market and other Poems,^[3]

     The hope I dreamed of was a dream,

     Was but a dream; and now I wake,

     Exceeding comfortless, and worn, and old,

     For a dream's sake.

2. (of a thing) Offering no comfort; uncomforting.
   • c. 1693, William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus, Act III, Scene 1,^[4]

     Alas, poor heart, that kiss is comfortless

     As frozen water to a starved snake.

   • 1818, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Chapter V,^[5]

     I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but felt impelled to hurry on, although drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky.

   • 1941, Emily Carr, Klee Wyck, Chapter 4,^[6]

     In comfortless, damp blankets we got through the night.

English

Alternative forms

• pathetick (archaic)
• patheticke (obsolete)
• pathetique (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French pathétique, from Latin patheticus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (path?tikós, “subject to feeling, capable of feeling, impassioned”), from ??????? (path?tós, “one who has suffered, subject to suffering”), from ????? (páskh?, “to suffer”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p????t?k/
• Rhymes: -?t?k

Adjective

pathetic (comparative more pathetic, superlative most pathetic)

1. Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.

   The child’s pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man’s heart.

   • 1883: George Reynolds, "History of the Book of Mormon: Contents of the Records, II," Contributor

     We have now arrived at one of the most pathetic and glorious events in the history of Israel, one which sanctifies the Lamanite race with the powers of martyrdom, and, by the blood of the victims, washes its garments white from many a former sin.
2. Arousing scorn or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.

   You can't even run two miles? That’s pathetic.

   You're almost 26 years old and you still can't hold a real job? That's pathetic.
3. (obsolete) Expressing or showing anger; passionate.
4. (anatomy) Trochlear.

Synonyms

• (arousing pity): pitiful, wretched, miserable, deplorable, pathetisad
• (arousing scorn): disgraceful, shameful, despicable, dishonorable

Derived terms

• patheticism
• patheticness
• pathetics

Related terms

• pathos

Translations

Further reading

• pathetic in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• pathetic in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.