empathist n.

We empathists can put ourselves into somebody else’s nervous system and think and feel as they do.

It was while we were sitting in the Chock Full o’ Nuts on the corner of Worth street, having coffee and cream cheese on date-nut bread, that be told me he was an empathist. ‘An empathist,’ I said. ‘Is that a fancy word for mind reader?’ ‘On the contrary. A so-called “mind reader” absorbs the thoughts of others; an empathist projects thoughts or emotions into others’ minds.’

Mostly I was born without their physical deformity or their talents, though I guess I got a little of both… The telepathy…filtered down. I'm an empathist.

Well, dammit, you know how it was. A man comes along with the Empathy Circuits to augment the brain, and you are happy to let them install one in your own head. I mean, everyone’s one big family now. No war. No misunderstandings. Only love. Right? Well, eventually. It’s going to be great. Someone’s having problems, everyone helps straighten him out, gives him love and understanding so that he can eventually come to terms with himself. And no words are needed. Man, not when everyone is an Empathist!

‘Yes, Sally Iselin had heard Amalda two nights before and wanted me to confirm her suspicion that Amalda was a high-gain empathist. What scared Amalda off that stage? And sent both of you into hiding?’ There was nothing helpful in Vaden’s mind except a repetition of what Daffyd and Sally had felt in Amalda’s projection. Instead, Vaden’s thoughts became despairing.

The eyes narrowed as it concentrated on the wound; the face lost its clownlike expression and became still with some kind of knowing. The soreness went away, and as she watched, the discoloration around the wound cleared. ‘Hypnosis?’ she said as the lumpie released her. ‘Or are you an empathist? If you can do that...’ She pointed to her black eye. ‘That hurts, too.’

Lily was no extraordinary empathist, but it took only a few minutes for her mind to slip into Parker’s, conjure an image, and spread it out before her like a mural.