GC: adj

S: NAVARRO p. 208

N: 1580s, from compassion (mid-14c., from Old French compassion “sympathy, pity” (12c.), from Late Latin compassionem (nominative compassio) “sympathy,” noun of state from past participle stem of compati “to feel pity,” from com- “together” + pati “to suffer”) + -ate (word-forming element used in forming nouns from Latin words ending in -atus, -atum).
Related: Compassionately. Phrase compassionate conservatism in American political language recorded by 1992, popularized, if not coined, by Marvin Olasky, University of Texas at Austin instructor.

S: OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=compassionate&searchmode=none (last access: 21 May 2015).

SYN: humane

S: NAVARRO p. 471

CR: charity