The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word PATHOS
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
P
A
T
H
O
S
More clues leading to the result PATHOS
- Feeling of sadness when seaman comes to end of route
- Quality arousing sorrow has power over Dumas character
- Ways to get round old feeling of pity
- Nothing in routes that arouses pity
- Ways to secure love that inspires pity
- Sorrow, of course, very uplifting
- Ways to secure love in a pitiable state
- Poignancy in tracks about love
- Feeling love in little ways
- Way seaman shows pity
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "a pitiable state" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a pitiable state = pathos.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PATHOS mean?
PATHOS noun- The quality or property of anything which touches the feelings or excites emotions and passions, especially that which awakens tender emotions, such as pity, sorrow, and the like; contagious warmth of feeling, action, or expression; pathetic quality.
- A writer or speaker's attempt to persuade an audience through appeals involving the use of strong emotions such as pity.
- An author's attempt to evoke a feeling of pity or sympathetic sorrow for a character.
- In theology and existentialist ethics following Kierkegaard and Heidegger, a deep and abiding commitment of the heart, as in the notion of "finding your passion" as an important aspect of a fully lived, engaged life.
- Suffering; the enduring of active stress or affliction.