Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sympathy, -ie, n. Also: sympethie, simpathie. [e.m.E. simpathy (1579), sympathie (a1586), sympathy (1613), F. sympathie (early 15th c. in Larousse), late L. sympathia, f. the Gk.] a. An affinity (real or supposed) between two things, so that they attract each other. b. Agreement, correspondence. c. Correspondence of feelings; similarity of temperament or outlook. d. The treating of another's troubles or suffering as one's own; fellow feeling. —a. 1597 Milne-Home MSS 63.
The sympethie of the adament and the iron quhais desyred coniunction is broken mony tymes be force of hand thocht na force be of power to change thair nathwres —b. 1604 James VI Tobacco 89/15.
It is therefore next to be examined if there be not a full sympathie and true proportion betweene the base ground and foolish entrie, and the loathsome and hurtful vse of this stinking antidote 1639 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 252.
The ministers & those that stood for the presbytery, thought there cause had more simpathie with the disciplin of Scotland —c. a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 205.
What native and natural sympathy is called-for betwixt a minister and his flock —d. 1604 James VI Tobacco 94/20.
Although all the rest of the body by sympathie feele it selfe to be as it were belaied and besieged by the affliction of that speciall part 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 69/4.
Who coulde not quenche that restles burning flame Which onlie ye by sympathie did mease