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

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

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

The veritable pity party gnashes its teeth more and more as the months pass.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But her heart isn’t in her work and for reasons we never buy, she takes pity on Doyle, recognizing in him a “lost soul.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Then I pity you,” Molina says breezily, charging into the first scene.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“No one deserves pity. Spare me your whining,” the video caption says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That didn't happen – possibly because the French authorities took pity on them after Sara's death.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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