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Definition of pity - 7 dictionary results

pit⋅y

  [pit-ee] noun, plural pit⋅ies, verb, pit⋅ied, pit⋅y⋅ing.
Use pity in a Sentence
–noun
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 astarving child.
2. a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret: What a pity you could not go!
–verb (used with object)
3. to feel pity or compassion for; be sorry for; commiserate with.
–verb (used without object)
4. to have compassion; feel pity.
—Idiom
5. have or take pity. to show mercy or compassion.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME pite < OF pite, earlier pitet < L pietāt- (s. of pietās) piety

Synonyms:
1. commiseration, compassion. See sympathy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pity
pit·y   (pĭt'ē)   
n.   pl. pit·ies
  1. Sympathy and sorrow aroused by the misfortune or suffering of another.
  2. A matter of regret: It's a pity she can't attend the reception.
v.   pit·ied, pit·y·ing, pit·ies

v.   tr.
To feel pity for.
v.   intr.
To feel pity.

[Middle English pite, from Old French, from Latin pietās, piety, compassion, from pius, dutiful.]
pit'y·ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: These nouns signify kindly concern aroused by the misfortune, affliction, or suffering of another. Pity often implies a feeling of sorrow that inclines one to help or to show mercy: felt pity for the outcast.
Compassion denotes deep awareness of the suffering of another and the wish to relieve it: "Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism" (Hubert H. Humphrey).
Commiseration signifies the expression of pity or sorrow: expressed their commiseration over the failure of the experiment.
Sympathy denotes the act of or capacity for sharing in the sorrows or troubles of another: "They had little sympathy to spare for their unfortunate enemies" (William Hickling Prescott).
Condolence is a formal, conventional expression of pity, usually to relatives upon a death: extending condolences to the bereaved family.
Empathy is an identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives: Having changed schools several times as a child, I feel empathy for the transfer students.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Pity

Pit"y\, n.; pl. Pities. [OE. pite, OF. pit['e], piti['e], F. piti['e], L. pietas piety, kindness, pity. See Pious, and cf. Piety.]

1. Piety. [Obs.] --Wyclif.

2. A feeling for the sufferings or distresses of another or others; sympathy with the grief or misery of another; compassion; fellow-feeling; commiseration.

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord. --Prov. xix. 17.

He . . . has no more pity in him than a dog. --Shak.

3. A reason or cause of pity, grief, or regret; a thing to be regretted. "The more the pity." --Shak.

What pity is it That we can die but once to serve our country! --Addison.

Note: In this sense, sometimes used in the plural, especially in the colloquialism: "It is a thousand pities."

Syn: Compassion; mercy; commiseration; condolence; sympathy, fellow-suffering; fellow-feeling. -- Pity, Sympathy, Compassion. Sympathy is literally fellow-feeling, and therefore requiers a certain degree of equality in situation, circumstances, etc., to its fullest exercise. Compassion is deep tenderness for another under severe or inevitable misfortune. Pity regards its object not only as suffering, but weak, and hence as inferior.

Pity

Pit"y\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pitied; p. pr. & vb. n. Pitying.]

1. To feel pity or compassion for; to have sympathy with; to compassionate; to commiserate; to have tender feelings toward (any one), awakened by a knowledge of suffering.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. --Ps. ciii. 13.

2. To move to pity; -- used impersonally. [Obs.]

It pitieth them to see her in the dust. --Bk. of Com. Prayer.

Pity

Pit"y\, v. i. To be compassionate; to show pity.

I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy. --Jer. xiii. 14.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : pity
Spanish: pena, compasión,
German: das Mitleid,
Japanese: 哀れみ
More Translations »

pity  (n.)
c.1225, from O.Fr. pite, pitet (11c., Mod.Fr. pitié), from L. pietatem (nom. pietas) "piety, affection, duty," in L.L. "gentleness, kindness, pity," from pius (see pious). Replaced O.E. mildheortness, lit. "mild-heartness," itself a loan-translation of L. misericordia. Eng. pity and piety were not fully distinguished until 17c. The verb meaning "to feel pity for" is attested from 1529. Pitiful is c.1303 in sense of "compassionate" (implied in pitifully); c.1460 in sense of "exciting or deserving pity;" 1582 in sense of "mean, wretched, contemptible."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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pity

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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