v. Also 6–7 sim-. [a. F. sympathiser (from 16th c.), f. sympathie SYMPATHY: see -IZE. Cf. It. simpatizzare, etc.]
1. intr. To suffer with or like another; to be affected in consequence of the affection of some one or something else; to be similarly or correspondingly affected; to respond sympathetically to some influence; spec. in Path. to be or become disordered in consequence of the disorder of some other part: cf. SYMPATHY 1, 1 b. Const. with.
In mod. use often colored by, or taken as fig. from, sense 4.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 48/2. As soone as the actione of one parte is hindered, al the other partes of the body doe therwithe conspire and sympathise.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. i. III. ii. 48. The Heart, and other inferiour parts, which sympathize and are much troubled.
1632. [see SYMPATHIZING vbl. sb.].
1674. W. Bates, Harmony Div. Attrib., ix. (1688), 176. The Earth trembled and the Rocks rent; the most insensible Creatures sympathiz’d with him.
1797. M. Baillie, Morb. Anat. (1807), 288. The stomach sympathizes with this state of the kidneys, for it is affected with sickness and vomiting.
a. 1812. Buckminster, Serm. (1827), I. 49. The mind will sympathize so much with the anguish and debility of the body, that it will be … too distracted to fix itself in meditation.
1876. Lowell, Among my Bks., Ser. II. 250. In the great poets there is an exquisite sensibility both of soul and sense that sympathizes like gossamer sea-moss with every movement of the element in which it floats.
1879. Rood, Chromatics, xlv. 61. The landscape … sympathizes with the sky, and near the sun … assumes an orange … hue.
† b. trans. in causal sense: To make ‘sympathetic,’ cause to be similarly affected. Obs. rare.
1661. Glanvill, Van. Dogm., 205. That some have conferr’d at distance by sympathized hands,… the hands of two friends being sympathized by a transferring of flesh from one into the other…; the least prick in the hand of one, the other will be sensible of,… in the same part of his own.
† 2. intr. a. To have an affinity; to agree in nature, disposition, qualities, or fortunes; to be alike; with with, to be like, resemble. Cf. SYMPATHY 2. Obs.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iv. 101. So, did he make … The Heav’ns and Stars, of one same substance bright; To th’ end these Lamps dispersed in the Skies, Might, with their Orb, it with them sympathize.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., III. vii. 158. The men doe sympathize with the Mastiffes, in robustious and rough comming on.
a. 1643. W. Cartwright, Siege, V. viii. Your Majesty And I do sympathize most strangely in Our Fortunes, that we should both of ’s be married Just at one very instant.
1668. The Rivals, 6. My thoughts are of the same complexion too, Our fears do Sympathize, just like our Loves.
† b. To agree, be in harmony, accord, harmonize. Const. with. Obs.
1600. Marston, etc., Jack Drums Entert., II. (1601), C iv b. Let me liue lou’d in my husbands eies, Whose thoughts with mine, may sweetly simpathize.
1610. Folkingham, Feudigr., I. xi. 37. Strong and long rootes neuer Sympathize with firme hard and solid soyles.
1629. Milton, Hymn Nativ., i. Nature in aw to him Had doff’t her gawdy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., B j. So doth it also best simpathize with reason.
1683. Salmon, Doron Med., I. 133. Make choice of a Purgative simpathizing with those parts.
1695. Dryden, trans. Dufresnoy’s Art Paint. (1716), 183. Blue and Yellow are two Colours which sympathize.
1711. [see SYMPATHIZING vbl. sb.].
† 3. trans. To agree with, answer or correspond to, match. Obs.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., V. i. 46. The sencelesse Brands will sympathize The heauie accent of thy mouing Tongue, And in compassion, weepe the fire out. Ibid. (1593), Lucr., 1113. True sorrow then is feelinglie suffiz’d, When with like semblance it is simpathiz’d.
1596. Spenser, Hymn Beauty, 192. In your choice of Loues … That likest to your selues ye them select, The which your forms first sourse may sympathize.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XIV. To Rdr. 333. Seeke Loues that ours shall sympathize.
† b. To represent or express by something corresponding or fitting; to apprehend mentally by the analogy of something else. Obs.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., lxxxii. Thou truly faire, wert truly simpathizde, In true plaine words, by thy true telling friend.
1600. S. Nicholson, Acolastus’ After-witte, D j b. Who right conceiues the miseries of Iob,… Can fittest deeme their griefes true qualitie, And sympathize poore Souldiers miserie.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 12. Some Boobyes, weary of flight, made our Ship their pearch, an animall so simple as suffers any to take her without feare,… which to sympathize I have as simply for your sport depicted.
1645. R. Beake, Lett. fr. Sommer Isl., in Prynne, Discov. Blazing Stars, App. 10. Able to sympathize another mans case by his owne.
† c. To make up or compound of corresponding parts or elements; to form or contrive harmoniously or consistently. Obs.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., III. i. 52. A message well sympathis’d, a Horse to be embassadour for an Asse.
1590. [see SYMPATHIZED].
1606. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. II. Magnificence, 1343. Of this great Frame, the parts so due-devis’d, This Bodie, tun’d so, measur’d, sympathiz’d.
4. intr. To feel sympathy; to have a fellow-feeling; to share the feelings of another or others; to be affected by the condition or experience of another with a feeling similar or corresponding to that of the other; spec. to be affected with pity for the suffering or sorrow of another, to feel compassion. (Cf. SYMPATHY 3 a–c.) Const. with a person (or, in extended or fig. use, a thing); in, with (rarely † at) a feeling, experience, etc.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, III. iv. There was but one sole man With whom I ere could sympathize.
1644. Cromwell, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 300. It’s our duty to sympathize in all mercyes; that wee praise the Lord together, in chastisements or tryalls, that soe wee may sorrowe together.
1685. O. Heywood, Diaries, etc. (1885), IV. 114. Friends and foes pittyed my case, sympathized with me.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Art of Poetry, 146. With them, who laugh, our social Joy appears; With them, who mourn, we sympathise in Tears.
1762. Goldsm., Cit. W., xxi. A heart that sympathises at human happiness.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 340. We may with patience bear our mod’rate ills, And sympathise with others, suff’ring more.
1838. Lytton, Alice, I. i. The elder of the two seemed the most to sympathize with her mirth.
1850. A. L. Waring, Hymn, ‘Father, I know,’ ii. A heart at leisure from itself, To soothe and sympathize.
a. 1862. Buckle, Misc. Wks. (1872), I. 166. Commerce first made nations sympathise with each other.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ii. § 8. 101. He was … without the imagination and reverence which enable men to sympathise with any past at all.
1888. Poor Nellie, II. ix. 152. I do sympathise in the anxiety you will feel about George!
b. transf. To express sympathy, esp. for another’s sorrow or suffering; to condole (with a person).
1748. [see SYMPATHIZING vbl. sb.].
1841. Ld. Cockburn, Jrnl. (1874), I. 295. A public meeting held … for the purpose of ‘sympathising’ with the seven ministers.
1908. [Miss Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 31. A clergyman and his wife went to sympathise with a neighbour.
c. In weakened sense: To agree or be disposed to agree in some opinion or way of thinking, to be of (about) the same mind with a person or party; also, with in or (now usually) with, to approve or incline to approve, to regard with favor (a scheme, cause, etc.). Cf. SYMPATHY 3 d.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. Pref. 16. In his terror of Papistry he sympathized with the Puritans.
a. 1842. Arnold, Fragm. on Church (1845), 220. There will be much in it in which you will heartily sympathize.
1864. Newman, Apol., i. (1904), 8/1. As far as I know, on this point alone, he and Hurrell Froude intimately sympathized.
1880. L. Stephen, Pope, vii. 160. Pope … sympathized with his schemes.
