I.v. a. dep., to commiserate, pity, to bewail (class. but rare); aliquem or aliquid: aliquem, Att. ap. Non. p. 445, 11: “fortunam Graeciae,” Nep. Ages. 5, 2: “in commiserandā re,” Auct. Her. 4. 55, 69: “interitum fratris,” Gell. 1, 5, 6.— *
B. Transf., of inan. objects: “leo gemitus edens et murmura dolorem cruciatumque vulneris commiserantia,” making it known by complaints, Gell. 5, 14, 19.—
II. In rhetoric, absol., of an orator, to excite compassion (cf. commiseratio): quid cum commiserari, conqueri coeperit, Cic. Div. in Caecil. 14, 46: cum commiserandum sit, * Quint. 11, 3, 58.