condolences

From Latin condoleo (“I feel another's pain”).

• IPA^(key): /kənˈdoʊlənsəz/, /ˈkɒndələnsəz/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

condolences

1. plural of condolence

condolences pl (plural only)

1. comfort, support, or sympathy offered especially to the family and friends of somebody who has died.

   I sent her a card expressing my condolences after her mother passed away.

• condolence

condolences

1. Expressing sympathy to someone, especially after learning of a close death.
   • 1992, Martin Cruz Smith, Red Square, page 120:

     "What were you doing at the cemetery?"
     "Burying my father."
     "Oh." Rodionov grunted as if he had expected a more imaginative excuse. "Condolences."

   • 2008 July 15, NPR, “When Does It Go Too Far?”, in Talk of the Nation:

     Let's get another caller on the line. This is Camille. Camille with us from Visalia in California.
     Visalia, California that's correct.
     Go ahead please.
     Hi. I'm an African-American woman and when I first saw the cover – let me preface this. I'm in central California, which is very conservative. And...
     Condolences.