pathos

pa·thos

noun
\ˈpā-ˌthäs, -ˌthȯs, -ˌthōs also ˈpa-\

Definition of PATHOS

1

: an element in experience or in artistic representation evoking pity or compassion

2

: an emotion of sympathetic pity

Examples of PATHOS

1. Our knowledge of his tragic end adds an element of pathos to the story of his early success.

Origin of PATHOS

Greek, suffering, experience, emotion, from paschein (aor. pathein) to experience, suffer; perhaps akin to Lithuanian kęsti to suffer

First Known Use: 1591

Rhymes with PATHOS

bathos, benthos, bugloss, chaos, Chios, cosmos, Delos, demos, Ellás, emboss, en masse, Eos, epos, Eros, ethos, Hyksos, kaross, kudos, kvass, Lagos, Laos, Laplace, Lemnos, Lesbos, Logos, Madras, Melos, mythos, Naxos, Nepos, nol-pros, nonpros, peplos, Pharos, pit boss, pothos, ringtoss, Samos, Skyros, straw boss, telos, topos, tripos

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