Which one do you use/prefer?

Empathetic

i don't think that they are interchangeable, but am too lazy to look up their definitions.

i believe that they are, and would likely use empathetic in a spoken sentence but empathic if i were writing the sentence. i do not know why.

For some reason I dislike the use of empathetic, it seems like it should be a different word, like the difference between telepathic and telepathetic (which is not a word, but is generally used as it sounds: pathetic at telepathy).

I came across empathetic in a science review article and then had to look if it was technically a word. Empathic is the original form, but apparently empathetic was added to the dictionary ~1932 probably as a misuse of the word (due to combining sympathy-sympathetic with empathy-empathic). Just thought it was interesting and decided to ask around.

then use the original "correct" form

Oh I will =P

According to Eytmology.com the timeline was as follows:
empathy
1903, empathy (first used by German philosopher Lotze from 'en' and 'pathos' to create em-pathy or in feeling)
1909, empathy+ic to get empathic
1924, empathize
1932, empathetic

Both are correct although they appear to be words created out of thing area by philosophers and psychologists.

I always use "empathetic". I don't think I've ever seen or heard the word "empathic" used as a synonym for "empathetic" (I actually went and looked it up to make sure you guys were right that it is synonymous).

That's probably a regionalism. But since my only exposure to the term "empathic" is in the context it's used in Star Trek, I'll probably never use it unless I mean something akin to telepathy.

-Fooglmog
Guy with no clue.

its funny you should say that because i'm a walking dictionary and merriam comes to ME for answers to such questions :P


(i'm joking, mind you.. i don't walk very often)