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Compassionate vs Affectionate - What's the difference?

compassionate | affectionate |

As adjectives the difference between compassionate and affectionate

is that compassionate is having, feeling or showing compassion; sympathetic while affectionate is having affection or warm regard; loving; fond.

As verbs the difference between compassionate and affectionate

is that compassionate is to feel compassion for; to pity, feel sorry for while affectionate is to show affection to; to have affection for.

compassionate

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having, feeling or showing compassion; sympathetic.
  • * South
    • There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate .
  • Of a leave, given to someone because of a domestic emergency.
    • compassionate leave
  • (obsolete) Inviting pity; pitiable.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Synonyms

    * ruthful

    Verb

    (compassionat)
  • (archaic) To feel compassion for; to pity, feel sorry for.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1903, author=William Godwin, title=Caleb Williams, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=And yet I could not help bitterly compassionating the honest fellow, brought to the gallows, as he was, strictly speaking, by the machinations of that devil incarnate, Mr. Tyrrel. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1895, author=J. Sheridan Le Fanu, title=The Evil Guest, chapter=, edition= citation
    • , passage=The good Mrs. Mervyn accompanied these words with looks so sly, and emphasis so significant, that Rhoda was fain to look down, to hide her blushes; and compassionating the confusion she herself had caused, the kind old lady led her to the chamber which was henceforward, so long as she consented to remain, to be her own apartment. }}
  • * 1749 , Henry Fielding, Tom Jones , Folio Society 1973, p. 50:
    • The justice which Mr Allworthy had executed on Partridge at first met with universal approbation; but no sooner had he felt its consequences, than his neighbours began to relent, and to compassionate his case [...].

    affectionate

    English

    Etymology 1

    Partly from (etyl) affectionatus, partly from affection + .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (of a person) Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond.
    • She eulogised her always warm and affectionate brother.
  • Characterised by or proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender.
    • the affectionate''' care of a parent; an '''affectionate''' countenance; an '''affectionate''' message; ' affectionate language
  • * 1900 , , The House Behind the Cedars , Chapter I,
    • Warwick left the undertaker's shop and retraced his steps until he had passed the lawyer's office, toward which he threw an affectionate glance.
    Synonyms
    * tender; lovesome; attached; loving; devoted; warm; fond; earnest; ardent. * See also
    Derived terms
    * affectionately
    Related terms
    * affect * affectation * affecter * affective * affection

    Etymology 2

    Either from the adjective, or from affection + (modelled on Middle French affectionner).

    Verb

    (affectionat)
  • (rare) To show affection to; to have affection for.
  • (obsolete, reflexive) To emotionally attach (oneself) to.
  • *, Folio Society, 2006, p.21:
    • Plutarch saith fitly of those who affectionate themselves to Monkies and little Dogges, that.
  • * 1721 , John Rushworth, Historical Collections Of Private Passages of State, etc.: 1618—1629 , Volume 1, page 222,
    • And fir?t, his Maje?ty would have you to under?tand, That there was never any King more loving to his People, or better affectionated to the right u?e of Parliaments, than his Maje?ty hath approved him?elf to be,.
  • * 1838 February 1, (Charles Dickens), To Catherine Dickens'', 2012, Jenny Hartley (editor), ''The Selected Letters of Charles Dickens , page 41,
    • Ever my dear Kate your affectionated husband
    CHARLES DICKENS
    ----