Pathetic



GRE Barron 考研

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj. 引起怜悯的; 令人难过的
• ［英］ adj. 引起怜悯的;令人难过的 ( marked by sorrow or melancholy)
• ［记］ path ( 感情) ＋etic -> 有感情的 -> 引起怜悯的
• ［同］ 同根词: apathetic ( 冷漠的) ; antipathy ( 反感)

Webster Collegiate

adjective

• Etymology: Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French pathetique, from Late Latin patheticus, from Greek pathētikos capable of feeling, pathetic, from paschein (aorist pathein) to experience, suffer — more at pathos
• Date: 1598
• 1. having a capacity to move one to either compassionate or contemptuous pity
• 2. marked by sorrow or melancholy ; sad
• 3. pitifully inferior or inadequate <the restaurant's pathetic service>
• 4. absurd, laughable <a pathetic costume>
• Synonyms: see moving
• ? pathetical adjective
• ? pathetically adverb

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