path
(PATH)feeling, suffering
Greek pathos meant feeling or suffering. Sympathy is shared feeling; apathy is no feeling at all; empathy puts you inside another's feeling.
The story behind this root
Pathos was the Greek word for what stirs you — feeling, suffering, deep emotion. A sympathetic person feels alongside you; an empathetic one steps inside your feeling. Apathy turns the dial all the way down: no feeling at all.
Example words
sympathy
feeling sorry for another's pain, from outside
empathy
feeling another person's feelings as if from inside
apathy
a lack of feeling or interest
pathetic
stirring strong feelings of pity
telepathy
communicating feelings or thoughts from a distance
Who it is for
Grades served: 5, 6, 7
Level 2Level 1 holds the word parts students meet first. Level 3 holds the ones that turn up in harder reading.
Related roots
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