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Commensurate vs Commiserate - What's the difference?

commensurate | commiserate |

As adjectives the difference between commensurate and commiserate

is that commensurate is of a proportionate or similar measurable standard while commiserate is commiserating, pitying, lamentful.

As verbs the difference between commensurate and commiserate

is that commensurate is to reduce to a common measure while commiserate is to feel or express compassion or sympathy for (someone or something).

commensurate

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of a proportionate or similar measurable standard.
    • If it is essential in our interests to maintain a quasi-permanent position of power on the Asian mainland as against the Chinese then we must be prepared to continue to pay the present cost in Vietnam indefinitely and to meet any escalation on the other side with at least a commensurate escalation of commitment of our own. - Report to the President on Southeast Asia-Vietnam by Senator Mike Mansfield, December 18, 1962

    Antonyms

    * incommensurate

    Verb

    (commensurat)
  • To reduce to a common measure.
    • (Sir Thomas Browne)
  • To proportionate; to adjust.

    • External links

    * * * * ----

    commiserate

    English

    Etymology 1

    From , the perfect passive participle of commiseror.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (obsolete, rare) commiserating, pitying, lamentful
  • * 1593 : , Christ’s Teares over Jerusalem , page 157 (1815 edited republication)
    • In the time of Gregory Nazianzene, if we may credit ecclesiastical records, there sprung up the direfulest mortality in Rome that mankind hath been acquainted with; scarce able were the living to bury the dead, and not so much but their streets were digged up for graves, which this holy Father (with no little commiserate heart-bleeding) beholding, commanded all the clergy (for he was at that time their chief bishop) to assemble in prayer and supplications, and deal forcingly beseeching with God, to intermit his fury and forgive them.

    References

    * “ †co?mmiserate, ppl. a.'']” listed in the '' [2nd Ed.; 1989

    Etymology 2

    Modelled upon , the perfect passive participial stem of the (etyl) commiseror.

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete) * (l) (obsolete spelling and modern misspelling) * (l) (obsolete spelling and modern misspelling)

    Verb

  • To feel or express compassion or sympathy for (someone or something).
  • (ambitransitive) To offer condolences jointly with; express sympathy with.
  • To sympathize; condole.
    • Derived terms
    * (l), (l) * (l)

    References

    * “ commiserate, v.'']” listed in the ''Oxford English Dictionary [2nd Ed.; 1989

    Related terms

    * misery ----