Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2017 April 14

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April 14

"broadly sympathize"

does this mean "sympathize a lot" ("broadly" as in "extensively") or "sympathize somewhat" ("broadly" as in "by and large")? Asmrulz (talk) 17:28, 14 April 2017 (UTC)

In British usage I would take it to mean "somewhat", and expect it to be followed by some kind of caveat. "I broadly sympathise, but in this case regret that I cannot help you". DuncanHill (talk) 17:41, 14 April 2017 (UTC)

I would understand it to mean that I sympathise with most of it (whatever it may be), but not quite with everything. More than "somewhat" - but not "totally" Wymspen (talk) 17:55, 14 April 2017 (UTC)

"Largely" or "mostly" seem more likely than "somewhat" although these things are vague. Plato did not invent speech. μηδείς (talk) 22:07, 14 April 2017 (UTC)

makes sense. thanks, all Asmrulz (talk) 01:51, 15 April 2017 (UTC)

• I always took this to mean that I'm sympathetic to the general (broad) case, but there is a reason that I am not as sympathetic to this specific case. -Arch dude (talk) 03:04, 16 April 2017 (UTC)
  • Perhaps as opposed to "deeply" sympathetic. "I wince for you, the Walrus said; I broadly sympathize." ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 14:03, 16 April 2017 (UTC)

LOL. that's "broad sympathy" alright Asmrulz (talk) 20:14, 16 April 2017 (UTC)