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pathos

noun [U]
 
 
/ˈpeɪ.θɒs/ US  /-θɑːs/ literary

Definition

the power of a situation, piece of writing, work of art or person to cause feelings of sadness, especially because of sympathy: There's a pathos in his performance which he never lets slide into sentimentality.Sympathy and compassion
(Definition of pathos noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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