Pity


[pit-ee] /ˈpɪt i/

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 astarving child.
2.
a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret:
What a pity you could not go!
verb (used with object), pitied, pitying.
3.
to feel pity or compassion for; be sorry for; commiserate with.
verb (used without object), pitied, pitying.
4.
to have compassion; feel pity.
Idioms
5.
have / take pity, to show mercy or compassion.
/ˈpɪtɪ/
noun (pl) pities
1.
sympathy or sorrow felt for the sufferings of another
2.
have pity on, take pity on, 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.
more’s the pity, it is highly regrettable (that)
verb pities, pitying, pitied
6.
(transitive) to feel pity for
n.

early 13c., from Old French pite, pitet “pity, mercy, compassion, care, tenderness; pitiful state, wretched condition” (11c., Modern French pitié), from Latin pietatem (nominative pietas) “piety, loyalty, duty” (see piety). Replaced Old English mildheortness, literally “mild-heartness,” itself a loan-translation of Latin misericordia. English pity and piety were not fully distinguished until 17c. Transferred sense of “grounds or cause for pity” is from late 14c.
v.

“to feel pity for,” late 15c., from Old French pitier and from pity (n.). Related: Pitied; pitying.
see:

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