compassion
Cross references: 1. pity com.pas.sion \k*m-'pash-*n\ n [ME, fr. MF or LL; MF, fr. LL compassion-, compassio, fr. compas]sus, pp. of compati to sympathize, fr. L com- + pati to bear, suffer : sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it