piteous

English

Etymology

Middle English pitous, from Old French piteus, pitus,

Pronunciation

Audio (US) (file)

Adjective

piteous (comparative more piteous, superlative most piteous)

pitiful; provoking pity, compassion, or sympathy.
- Shakespeare
  The most piteous tale of Lear.
(obsolete) pious; devout
- Wyclif
  The Lord can deliver piteous men from temptation.
(obsolete) compassionate; tender
- Alexander Pope
  [She was] piteous of his case.
(obsolete) paltry; mean; pitiful
(Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)

Synonyms

pathetic

Derived terms

piteously

Related terms

see pity

Translations

pitiful

Breton: truezus (br)
Finnish: säälittävä (fi), surkea (fi)
French: pitoyable (fr)

Russian: жа́лкий (ru) m (žálkij)
Spanish: lamentable (es)

Anagrams

poustie

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