noun

1. the projection of one's own personality into the personality of another in order to understand the person better; ability to share in another's emotions, thoughts, or feelings
2. the projection of one's own personality into an object, with the attribution to the object of one's own emotions, responses, etc.

Etymology: < Gr empatheia, affection, passion < en-, in + pathos, feeling: used to transl. Ger einfühlung (< ein-, in + fühlung, feeling)