empathy

empathy definition - medical

em·pa·thy (ĕmˈpə-thē)

noun
  1. Direct identification with, understanding of, and vicarious experience of another person's situation, feelings, and motives.
  2. The projection of one's own feelings or emotional state onto an object or animal.

Related Forms:

  • emˌpa·thetˈic (-thĕtˈĭk), em·pathˈic (-păthˈĭk) adjective

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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