The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms INTRO ...

Brit footway: A little kitten was sitting on the garden path.
2 way, course, track, route, road; orbit, trajectory, circuit:
She had to overcome many obstacles in her path to the
directorship. The path of the missile will take it outside the
atmosphere. 3 course, approach, channel, direction, procedure,
process, way, avenue, means, method, technique, strategy,
scheme, plan, Colloq US game plan, scenario: What path would
you follow to accomplish your ends?
pathetic adj. 1 moving, stirring, affecting, affective, touching,
emotional, emotive, poignant, tragic, heart-rending,
heart-breaking, pitiful, pitiable, piteous, plaintive, wretched,
miserable, sorrowful, grievous, sad, doleful, dolorous,
mournful, woeful, lamentable: The boat people told a pathetic
tale of the hardship of weeks in the open sea. 2 meagre, paltry,
feeble, inadequate, poor, petty, puny, sorry, piddling, Colloq
measly, Slang crummy: He made a pathetic effort to pull himself
together. A return of three per cent a year is pathetic.
patience n. 1 tolerance, forbearance, restraint, toleration, sufferance,
leniency, submission, resignation, self-control,
imperturbability, even temper, unflappability, composure,
calmness, serenity, equanimity: Many parents lose their
patience when dealing with children. 2 diligence, tenacity,
doggedness, indefatigability, endurance, assiduity,
perseverance, constancy, persistence, steadfastness,
pertinacity, determination, resolve, resolution, firmness,
stoicism, fortitude, Colloq US stick-to-it-iveness: Where do
you get the patience to wait in those long queues?
patient adj. 1 resigned, submissive, stoical, long-suffering,
compliant, acquiescent, passive, self-possessed, philosophical,
serene, unaggressive: The staff who handle complaints must be
extremely patient. 2 diligent, dogged, tenacious, persistent,
assiduous, sedulous, steadfast, staunch, perseverant,
unwavering, unswerving, constant, unfaltering, unfailing,
untiring, tireless, indefatigable, pertinacious, determined,
resolved, resolute, firm, unyielding: Be patient, and don't do
anything rash. 3 forbearing, tolerant, forgiving, lenient,
accommodating: We have been patient long enough and must now
put a stop to the vandalism.
--n. 4 invalid, sufferer, case, valetudinarian: Doctors were