different between compassionate vs forgiving

English

Etymology

A pseudo-Latin form of French compassionné, past participle of compassionner (“feel sorry for”).

Pronunciation

• (UK, adjective) IPA^(key): /k?m?pæ??n?t/
• (UK, verb) IPA^(key): /k?m?pæ??ne?t/

Adjective

compassionate (comparative more compassionate, superlative most compassionate)

1. Having, feeling or showing compassion (to or toward someone).

   Synonyms: empathetic, sympathetic, ruthful

   (names given to God in Islam)

   • 1611, John Donne, An Anatomy of the World, London: Samuel Macham,^[1]

     As a compassionate Turcoyse which doth tell

     By looking pale, the wearer is not well,

   • 1675, Robert South, A Sermon preached at Christ-Church, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, London: Thomas Bennett, 1692, p. 574,^[2]

     […] there never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender, and compassionate.

   • 1850, Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, London: Bradbury and Evans, Chapter 49, p. 502,^[3]

     He was by nature so exceedingly compassionate of anyone who seemed to be ill at ease […] that he shook hands with Mr. Micawber, at least half-a-dozen times in five minutes.

   • 2007, Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Orlando: Harcourt, Chapter 7, p. 99,^[4]

     […] the compassionate pangs I felt for soon-to-be redundant workers were not overwhelming in their frequency; our job required a degree of commitment that left one with rather limited time for such distractions.

2. Given to someone as an exception because of a family emergency or a death in their family.

3. (obsolete) Inviting or asking for pity.

   Synonym: pitiable

   • c. 1595, William Shakespeare, Richard II, Act I, Scene 3,^[5]

     It boots thee not to be compassionate:

     After our sentence plaining comes too late.

Derived terms

• compassionately
• compassionateness
• uncompassionate

Translations

Verb

compassionate (third-person singular simple present compassionates, present participle compassionating, simple past and past participle compassionated)

1. (transitive, archaic) To feel compassion (for someone or with regard to something); to regard (someone or something) with compassion.

   Synonyms: pity, feel sorry for

   • 1602, Thomas Lodge (translator), The Famous and Memorable Workes of Josephus, London: G. Bishop et al., Chapter 6, p. 733,^[6]

     […] seeing them die so wofully in the flames, he compassionated them.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Dublin: John Smith, Volume 1, Book 2, Chapter 6, p. 83,^[7]

     The Justice which Mr. Allworthy had executed on Partridge, at first met with universal Approbation; but no sooner had he felt its Consequences, than his Neighbours began to relent, and to compassionate his Case;

   • 1794, William Godwin, Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams, London: B. Crosby, Volume 2, Chapter 1, p. 4,^[8]

     And yet I could not help bitterly compassionating the honest fellow, brought to the gallows, as he was, strictly speaking, by the machinations of that devil incarnate, Mr. Tyrrel.

   • 1847, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, London: Smith, Elder, Volume 1, Chapter 3, p. 38,^[9]

     “ […] if she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her forlornness; but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that.”

Translations

Italian

Verb

compassionate

1. second-person plural present indicative of compassionare
2. second-person plural imperative of compassionare
3. feminine plural of compassionato

English

Adjective

forgiving (comparative more forgiving, superlative most forgiving)

1. Inclined to forgive.

   I am inclined to take a forgiving attitude, since this is his first offence.

2. (computing) User-friendly, such that harmful mistakes are not easily made.
   • 2010, Roger S. Pressman, Software Engineering: A Practitioner's Approach (page 336)

     A good WebApp interface is understandable and forgiving, providing the user with a sense of control. […] Work is carefully and continuously saved, with full option for the user to undo any activity at any time.

Translations

Verb

forgiving

1. present participle of forgive

Noun

forgiving (plural forgivings)

1. An act of forgiveness.