pity

[pit-ee]

noun

plural

pities 

1. 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 a starving child.

   Synonyms: compassion, commiseration

2. a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret.

   What a pity you could not go!

adjective

1. motivated by a sense of pity or sympathy for others or for oneself.

   It seems he got the pity vote because of his personality, but his singing just wasn’t that great.

verb (used with object)

pitied, pitying 

1. to feel pity or compassion for; be sorry for; commiserate with.

verb (used without object)

pitied, pitying 

1. to have compassion; feel pity.

pity

/ ˈpɪtɪ /

noun

1. sympathy or sorrow felt for the sufferings of another

2. to have sympathy or show mercy for

3. something that causes regret or pity

4. an unfortunate chance

   what a pity you can't come

5. it is highly regrettable (that)

verb

1. (tr) to feel pity for

Other Word Forms

• outpity verb (used with object)
• unpitied adjective
• pitying adjective
• pityingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pity¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English pite, from Old French pite, earlier pitet, from Latin pietāt- (stem of pietās “dutiful respect, sense of duty”); piety

Word History and Origins

Origin of pity¹

C13: from Old French pité, from Latin pietās duty

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have / take pity, to show mercy or compassion.

see for one's (pity's) sake; take pity on.

Synonym Study

See sympathy .

Example Sentences

"I begged them not to hurt me. I called on the saints and begged them. But their hearts didn't pity me. They violated me."

Read more on BBC

It was a pity about the stage curtain, but really, what choice had she had?

Read more on Literature

Should she run, or fight, or cower helplessly in the hope that the wolf would take pity and leave them alone?

Read more on Literature

Surely it would be a pity to interrupt them.

Read more on Literature

It is a pity because such perspective would help us grapple with the fundamental human conundrum that technological advance so often outpaces moral progress.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• compassion 
• condolence 
• empathy 
• kindness 
• melancholy 
• mercy 
• sadness 
• sorrow 
• sympathy 
• tenderness www.thesaurus.com
• warmth