Meaning

adjective of or relating to the sympathetic nervous system

adjective expressing or feeling or resulting from sympathy or compassion or friendly fellow feelings; disposed toward

adjective showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

originMid 17th century in the sense “relating to an affinity or paranormal influence”, from Latin sympathēticus. By surface analysis, sympathy + -etic (“pertaining to”); compare pathetic. Displaced native Old English efnþrōwiende.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0