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compatir

to sympathize, feel compassion

verb kohn-pah-TEER Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: Latin compati

Usage Note

Compatir is usually followed by the preposition à: compatir à la douleur de quelqu'un ('to feel for someone's pain'). It is a regular second-group (-ir) verb, conjugating like finir. Less common than avoir de la compassion pour, it carries a slightly more literary or formal tone.

Examples

"Il est difficile de ne pas compatir à leur souffrance."

Natural Translation

It is hard not to feel compassion for their suffering.

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