compassionable

comparative more compassionable · superlative most compassionable

1. archaicDeserving compassion or pity.

   A man of this kind, on an enforced holiday, is a very compassionable object.

   1890, “On Idleness”, in All the Year Round, Series 3, Volume 3, No. 76, 14 June, 1890, p. 557

   3 more examples

   1585, Robert Parsons, A Christian Directorie Guiding Men to their Saluation, Rouen: Fr. Parson’s Press, Part 1, Chapter 8, He spared him not […] euen then, when he beheld him sorowful vnto death, and bathed in that agonie of blood and water, when he hard him vtter thos most dolorous and compassionable speeches, O my father, if it be possible, let this cuppe passe from me.

   […] a good Judg […] should tender the Parties Case as compassionable, and desire that he may be delivered from the evil threatning him;

   1678, Isaac Barrow, Several Sermons against Evil-Speaking, London: Brabazon Aylmer, The Eighth Sermon, p. 60

   The following interview between Juliet and her parents places her in a very compassionable situation;

   1770, Francis Gentleman, “Romeo and Juliet, altered from Shakespeare by Garrick”, in The Dramatic Censor: or, Critical Companion, volume 1, London: J. Bell, page 184

   Synonyms: pitiable

2. obsoleteHaving, feeling, or showing compassion.

   2 more examples

   1536, uncredited translator (attributed to Miles Coverdale), A Myrrour or Glasse for them that be Syke [and] in Payne by Guglielmus Gnaphaeus, London: Ian Gough, Can not thynke ye the poore haue a mercifull, and compassionable harte towarde the, that be in pouerte, & anguysshe, though theyr power can not extende to declare it?

   1625, Samuel Purchas, Purchas His Pilgrimes, Part 2 in Five Books, London: Henry Fetherstone, “Præritorum, or Discoveries of the World,” Chapter 13, p. 1843, […] they in reuenge pulled mee by the heeles from the horse backe, beating me most pittifully, and left mee almost for dead […] and if it had not beene for some compassionable Greekes, who by accident came by and relieued me, I had (doubtlesse) immediately perished.

   Synonyms: compassionate