c.1412, "full of misery, causing wretchedness" (of conditions), from O.Fr. miserable, from L. miserabilis "pitiable, lamentable," from miserari "to pity, lament," from miser "wretched." Of persons, "existing in a state of misery" it is attested from 1526.
very unhappy; full of misery; "he felt depressed and miserable"; "a message of hope for suffering humanity"; "wretched prisoners huddled in stinking cages"
2.
deserving or inciting pity; "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic"- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life" [syn: hapless]
3.
of the most contemptible kind; "abject cowardice"; "a low stunt to pull"; "a low-down sneak"; "his miserable treatment of his family"; "You miserable skunk!"; "a scummy rabble"; "a scurvy trick" [syn: abject]
4.
of very poor quality or condition; "deplorable housing conditions in the inner city"; "woeful treatment of the accused"; "woeful errors of judgment" [syn: deplorable]
5.
characterized by physical misery; "a wet miserable weekend"; "spent a wretched night on the floor"
6.
contemptibly small in amount; "a measly tip"; "the company donated a miserable $100 for flood relief"; "a paltry wage"; "almost depleted his miserable store of dried beans" [syn: measly]
Com*mis"er*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commiserated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commiserating.] [L. commiseratus, p. p. of commiserari to commiserate; com- + miserari to pity. See Miserable.] To feel sorrow, pain, or regret for; to pity. Then must we those, who groan, beneath the weight Of age, disease, or want, commiserate. --Denham. We should commiserate our mutual ignorance. --Locke. Syn: To pity; compassionate; lament; condole.
Mis"er*a*ble\, a. [F. mis['e]rable, L. miserabilis, fr. miserari to lament, pity, fr. miser wretched. See Miser.]1. Very unhappy; wretched. What hopes delude thee, miserable man? --Dryden. 2. Causing unhappiness or misery. What 's more miserable than discontent? --Shak. 3. Worthless; mean; despicable; as, a miserable fellow; a miserable dinner. Miserable comforters are ye all. --Job xvi. 2. 4. Avaricious; niggardly; miserly. [Obs.] --Hooker. Syn: Abject; forlorn; pitiable; wretched.
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