We explain what is pathetic, some synonyms of this term and its definition in the fields of literature and medicine.
What is pathetic?
The adjective pathetic is used to refer to that which is capable of mobilizing the spirit by infusing it with vehement affections and particularly pain, sadness or melancholy. This word comes from the Greek pathetikos, where pathos means emotion, feeling or illness and the suffix iko means "related to."
The most common use for this adjective is the one to refer to something that is grotesque. We could say, then, that this use of the word is closely related to ridiculousness.
The main purpose of the use of this word is to disqualify the other. That is, it is used as a means of aggression towards a person or situation to make notice that their action or way of being causes discomfort, shame or laughter in the people who are around.
Synonyms: In order to understand the meaning of this concept even more precisely, we can say that moving, painful, exciting, dramatic, disturbing, impressive or tragic are some of the many synonyms that correspond to this word.
Definition of pathetic in literature
In the field of literature, there is a famous expression that uses this concept called «pathetic fallacy«, Which refers to that resource of the description of a series of objects that do not have life and belong to the nature, to which a series of certain feelings will be granted, as well as sensations, that can only be attributed to the Humans.
In this case, the use of the word "pathetic" is neither negative nor pejorative, but is related to the empathy. If we compare it with the rhetorical figures, has common characteristics with personification because both attribute human sensations, capacities and emotions to inanimate objects; however, the pathetic fallacy is less formal than the latter.
Definition of pathetic in medicine
In the field of medicine and the human body, the word pathetic has a certain meaning. It is used to refer to the "pathetic nerve" (it is also known as the trochlear nerve) and it is that nerve that is found in the skull and that is related to motor skills when the greater oblique muscle found in the eyes is innervated.
We can find the pathetic nerve in the middle brain and its main function is to originate a set of fibers, which will emerge from the rostral medullary veil.
This nerve is essential because it needs to function properly to prevent the person from suffering from a divergent strabismus, if they are experiencing paralysis. In addition, its malfunction can cause the person to have symptoms such as double vision.