Condolences

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kənˈdoʊlənsəz/

Definitions

1. Expressions of sympathy and sorrow offered to someone experiencing grief or loss
2. Messages conveying compassion and support to a person mourning the death of a loved one
3. Remarks intended to comfort those affected by tragedy or bereavement

Etymology: "Condolences" is the plural of "condolence," and the plural is the form most people meet, usually in the phrase "please accept my condolences." The singular came into English from Middle French "condoléance," which itself grew out of Latin "condoleō," meaning "to sympathize," built from "con-" ("together") and "doleō" ("to hurt, suffer, have pain"). So at its root the word is about suffering shared with someone. English also has a verb, "condole," which the noun can be formed from directly by adding the suffix "-ence." Both routes lead to the same Latin source, so the noun has more than one possible path into the language. The Latin verb "doleō" is also the source of "dolor," which shows the same root meaning pain.

Synonyms: sympathy, commiserations, compassion

Antonyms: indifference, insensitivity