| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| bathos, pathos (nn.), bathetic, pathetic (adj.) |
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| In style, bathos (pronounced BAI-thahs) is the sudden intrusion of the commonplace, the trite, or the trivial into the midst of elevated, high-toned matter. Specifically bathos is fake, hypocritical, or overdone imitation of pathos (first syllable pronounced PAI- or PA-; second syllable pronounced -thahs or -thos), which is an emotion evoking pity and compassion. The adjectives bathetic and pathetic rhyme. All four words are Standard. | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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