v. Obs. [Back-formation from FELLOW-FEELING.]
1. intr. To share the feelings of others; to feel in common, sympathize with.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 8. So must they by their prayers for him, by their patience, by all manner of Ministery to the Saints in trouble, shew that they partake and fellow-feele in the afflictions of the Gospel.
1641. W. Hooke, New Eng. Teares, 5. It is the part of one member to fellow-feele with another.
2. trans. To share the feeling of; to sympathize with (another’s suffering), rare; there are several examples in the author quoted.
1641. Rogers, Naaman, 319. Not to leave them to themselves, but to fellow-feele their affliction.
Hence Fellow-feeler, a sympathizer; Fellow-feeling a., sympathetic.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Kt. Burn. Pestle, III. v. Am I not your fellow-feeler, as we may say, in all our miseries?
1622. S. Ward, Life of Faith in Death (1627), 84. Not onely of a wise God, but of a tender father, and fellow-feeling elder brother, who knowing thy mould, do more exactly measure our euery Crosse vnto thee, then the carefullest Apothecaries doe their Scruples and drammes of dangerous Physicke.
1677. Gilpin, Dæmonol. (1867), 223. To bear one another’s burdens, to mourn with those that mourn, shews us to be fellow-feeling members of the same body.
1708. Brit. Apollo, No. 87, 1/2. A fellow-feeling Tenderness.
