verb
condole
kun-DOHL/kənˈdəʊl/
To express sympathy to someone who is grieving or suffering.
Neighbors stop by to condole with the grieving family.
Etymology
The pieces express grieving with another person. Condole shifted from sharing someone's sorrow to expressing that sympathy to the person who is suffering.
In context
I have come to condole with you upon your misfortune, and to offer you my warmest sympathy.
More examples
- I write to condole with you on your father's death.
- She condoled with her friend after the funeral.
- He calls to condole with us over our loss.
Forms
condole · condoles · condoled · condoling
condolence noun — An expression of sympathy for someone's loss.
Similar words
- sympathize
- Emphasizes understanding or sharing feelings, not necessarily expressing sorrow.
- console
- Focuses on easing someone's grief rather than expressing sympathy.