CultureSeptember 4, 2026

pathos

PAY-thos

Definition

A quality that evokes feelings of pity, sadness, or deep sympathy.

Etymology

The word comes directly from the Greek word 'pathos,' meaning 'suffering' or 'feeling.' It entered English in the 16th century, primarily used in rhetorical and dramatic contexts to describe the power of speech or art to stir the emotions.

In the news

The article uses the word to describe the raw, emotional reality of the subjects' lives in rural Missouri, noting that their experiences contain both joy and heartbreak.

'Too Much Sugar' Review: Robert Greene's Hybrid Portrait of Rural Life

Read the full article ↗

The Hollywood Reporter

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