[latinized ad. F. compassionné, pa. pple. of compassionner to compassionate: see -ATE2 3.]
1. Affected with, characterized by, or expressing compassion; pitiful, sympathetic.
1587. Mirr. Mag. (1610), 687. As if that heau’n vpon our state below, Foreseeing our harmes, compassionate had beene.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., II. iv. 217. My compassionate heart.
a. 1620. J. Dyke, Worthy Commun. (1640), 139. Christ was compassionate, they are mercilesse.
1625. Donne, Serm., 3 April, 19. It is a fault … to bee too compassionate of an Heretique.
1683. Burnet, trans. More’s Utopia, 180. Tho they are compassionate to all that are sick.
1752. Fielding, Causes Increase Robbers. A … compassionate disposition.
1870–4. Anderson, Missions Amer. Bd., III. iv. 69. Compassionate persons interceded, and his condition was alleviated.
† b. Indicating compassion. Obs.
1692. R. L’Estrange, Josephus’ Antiq., IV. viii. (1733), 24. Let there be a compassionate Remainder left for those that have nothing to eat of their own.
† c. ? Displaying sorrowful emotion; sorrowfully lamenting; or ? moving pity, piteous. Obs.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iii. 174. It boots thee not to be compassionate, After our sentence, plaining comes too late.
† 2. Fitted to excite compassion; pitiable, piteous. Obs.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., II. 160. Compassionate cruelty.
1654. Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Warres Flanders, 418. A most compassionate spectacle; for they were all so macerated with hunger, etc.
1732. Neal, Hist. Purit., I. 313. Their case was most compassionate, for they had wives and large families of children.
1767. Colman, Eng. Merchant, v. Your case is truly a compassionate one.
† 3. Sympathetic. (Cf. COMPASSION sb. 1.) Obs.
a. 1631. Donne, Problems, xi. (L.). The nose is most compassionate with this part.
† 4. as sb. One who is compassionate. Obs. rare.
1602. W. Watson, Decacordon, 190. Compassionates of our afflictions. Ibid., 268. True compassionates of their countries miseries.
