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> some Latin doesn't hurt, "compassion" is just the same. "com" means with

English uses this "second register" to make words, which makes it harder. German and Dutch do not, they use the regular vocabulary. The classic example is scientific terms like "Carbon", ""hydrogen": In German "Kohlenstoff" and "Wasserstoff". It helps if you realise that "stoff" is stuff, material; "Kohle" is coal and "wasser" is water.

That's also the composition of 'sympathy', just that's Greek instead of Latin.

While you're right, I can't help but notice: It's important to know the difference between "composition" and "symposium" ;-)

And some ancient greek doesn't hurt either ( philosophy, philadelphia, telephone, etc ).

That neither latin nor ancient greek are part of the public education curriculum is a sin.

In some contries it is (as an option to choose from) and at some schools even compulsory.