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sympathy card

sympathy card

4 1.6
A card sent to someone to show you are sorry after a death
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪmpəθi kɑrd/
translation icon : tarjeta de condolencias
  • I wanted to send a sympathy card to someone in the Hindu religion.
  • send a sympathy card
  • write in sympathy cards

And also we got stacks and stacks of sympathy cards from you guys about Dexter.

Examples

  • Hey, guys, we're signing a sympathy card for the Colonel's sister.

  • When my mother died, they sent a sympathy card to the hospice on the Maryland shore.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • You can send a sympathy card or just an email as well.

    Blog text (16)
  • Do send a sympathy card.

    Blog text (26)
  • - Remind me to send a sympathy card.

  • I think sending a sympathy card is a lovely way to express your support.

    Blog text (26)
  • He sent a sympathy card.

  • His idea of "being there for her" consisted of giving Cecilia a sympathy card and writing a few lines about how sorry he was for her loss.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • And also we got stacks and stacks of sympathy cards from you guys about Dexter.

  • I bought a sympathy card to send to my friend after her loss.

Synonyms

Mass card
vssympathy card
1 8.5

A card sent to someone who lost a loved one saying a Mass will be said for them

is a general expression of comfort, not a promise of a religious service
note of condolences
vssympathy card
3.6

A written message that says you are sorry when someone dies

is a printed or decorated item sent instead of a short personal message

How Personal

sympathy card
4 1.6

Surface Forms

sympathy card singular

Morphology

sympathy + card

The meaning 'a card sent to express sympathy' is directly compositional from 'sympathy' (sharing another's sadness) + 'card' (an item used to send a message), so the overall sense is predictable from the parts. This construction (condolence/sympathy card) is common across languages and cultures, so a B1 learner knowing both constituent meanings would readily understand it.

Etymology

The noun sympathy card comes from the simple image of a folded paper card with a kind message of sympathy sent to someone after a loss. That's why it means 'a card sent to show you care'.