pathetical

P3A1T1H4E1T1I1C3A1L1
UK/pəˈθɛtɪkl̩/

adjective

Arousing sympathy; pathetic.

First used 16th c.Scrabble 17

Meanings

adjectivepathetical (comparative more pathetical, superlative most pathetical)

comparative more pathetical · superlative most pathetical

  1. archaicArousing sympathy; pathetic.First known use 16th c.
  2. Arising from strong emotion; passionate.First known use 16th c.

    Not Hermes Prolocutor to the Gods, Could vſe perſwaſions more pathetical.

    c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii
    1 more example

    Theseus at the first sight of Helen was so besotted, that he esteemed himself the happiest man in the world if he might enjoy her, and to that purpose kneeled down, and made his pathetical prayers unto the gods.

    1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition III, section 2, member 2, subsection ii

Origin

  1. Late Latinpatheticus
  2. Englishpathetical

From Late Latin patheticus + -al.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

pathetical. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pathetical

MLA

“pathetical.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pathetical. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pathetical,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pathetical.

Source: pathetical on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.