pity

[ pit-ee ]

/ ˈpɪt i /

noun, plural pit·ies.

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 for pity

have/take pity, to show mercy or compassion.

Origin of pity

1175–1225; Middle English pite < Old French pite, earlier pitet < Latin pietāt- (stem of pietās) piety

SYNONYMS FOR pity

1 commiseration, compassion. See sympathy.

OTHER WORDS FROM pity

out·pit·y, verb (used with object), out·pit·ied, out·pit·y·ing. un·pit·ied, adjective

Words nearby pity

pituitary gonadotropic hormone, pituitary growth hormone, pituitary myxedema, pituitous, pituri, pity, pitying, pityriasis, pityriasis alba, pityriasis linguae, pityriasis rosea

Example sentences from the Web for pities

Naturally she pities me for not having this wonderful experience, too.

Why I Choose to Be Child-Free: Readers Share Their Stories |Harry Siegel |February 27, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
There is not much difference between them, and it is a thousand pities there should be any.

The Chainbearer |J. Fenimore Cooper
He looked at me the way Tippy does, as if she pities me so that it breaks her heart.

Georgina's Service Stars |Annie Fellows Johnston
A thousand pities her ladyship has such ways— and to so good-humoured a gentleman as you seem to be, Sir.

Clarissa, Volume 5 (of 9) |Samuel Richardson

It scourges the thief of Necessity, and pities the thief of Fashion.

Twelve Causes of Dishonesty |Henry Ward Beecher
It's a pity—a thousand pities, Mr. Gregg, that you didn't stop those two men who buried the body.

The Czar's Spy |William Le Queux

British Dictionary definitions for pities

pity

/ (ˈpɪtɪ) /

noun plural pities

sympathy or sorrow felt for the sufferings of another

have pity on or take pity on to have sympathy or show mercy for

something that causes regret or pity

an unfortunate chance what a pity you can't come

more's the pity it is highly regrettable (that)

verb pities, pitying or pitied

(tr) to feel pity for

Derived forms of pity

pitying, adjective pityingly, adverb

Word Origin for pity

C13: from Old French pité, from Latin pietās duty

Idioms and Phrases with pities

pity

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pity

noun, plural pit·ies.

adjective

verb (used with object), pit·ied, pit·y·ing.

verb (used without object), pit·ied, pit·y·ing.

Idioms for pity

Origin of pity

SYNONYMS FOR pity

OTHER WORDS FROM pity

Words nearby pity

Example sentences from the Web for pities

British Dictionary definitions for pities

noun plural pities

verb pities, pitying or pitied

Derived forms of pity

Word Origin for pity

Idioms and Phrases with pities

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pity

noun, plural pit·ies.

adjective

verb (used with object), pit·ied, pit·y·ing.

verb (used without object), pit·ied, pit·y·ing.

Idioms for pity

Origin of pity

SYNONYMS FOR pity

OTHER WORDS FROM pity

Words nearby pity

Words related to pities

Example sentences from the Web for pities

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for pities

noun plural pities

verb pities, pitying or pitied

Derived forms of pity

Word Origin for pity

Idioms and Phrases with pities

British Dictionary definitions for pities