Compassionateness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A trait marked by sincere empathy and a willingness to alleviate the suffering of others
2. A quality characterized by genuine concern for others' feelings and a desire to help ease their pain and hardship
3. A state of being that reflects deep understanding of another's suffering coupled with an urge to provide support and kindness

Etymology: "Compassionateness" is a straightforward formation: the adjective "compassionate" with the suffix "-ness" added to turn a quality into a noun. The suffix itself has a long pedigree, descending from a Germanic element that English has used since Old English, when "-nes" was attached to adjectives and nouns to name states and qualities. Over the centuries the form softened through Middle English "-nesse" into the modern "-ness". The adjective at its core, "compassionate", carries the older idea of feeling with someone. The word "compassion" was borrowed into English from Old French, which took it from Late Latin "compassio", built from "com-" (together) and "pati" (to suffer). So the whole word hinges on suffering shared with another person, and "compassionateness" names the quality of being disposed toward that shared feeling.

Synonyms: empathy, kindness, sympathy, benevolence, warmth

Antonyms: cruelty, indifference, apathy, insensitivity, callousness