sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one to give relief or aid or to show mercy: to feel pity for astarving child.
a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret: What a pity you could not go!
adjective
Informal.motivated by a sense of pity or sympathy for others or for oneself: to have pity sex with a virgin; to go on a pity date with a loser.
verb (used with object),pit·ied,pit·y·ing.
to feel pity or compassion for; be sorry for; commiserate with.
verb (used without object),pit·ied,pit·y·ing.
to have compassion; feel pity.
Idioms
have/take pity, to show mercy or compassion.
Origin of pity
1175–1225;Middle Englishpite < Old Frenchpite, earlier pitet < Latinpietāt- (stem of pietās) piety
Related formsout·pit·y, verb (used with object),out·pit·ied,out·pit·y·ing.un·pit·ied, adjective
early 13c., from Old French pite, pitet "pity, mercy, compassion, care, tenderness; pitiful state, wretched condition" (11c., Modern French pitié), from Latin pietatem (nominative pietas) "piety, loyalty, duty" (see piety). Replaced Old English mildheortness, literally "mild-heartness," itself a loan-translation of Latin misericordia. English pity and piety were not fully distinguished until 17c. Transferred sense of "grounds or cause for pity" is from late 14c.
pity
v.
"to feel pity for," late 15c., from Old French pitier and from pity (n.). Related: Pitied; pitying.
