pity
English
Alternative forms
* pitty (obsolete)Noun
(uncountable) A feeling of sympathy at the misfortune or suffering of someone or something.* Bible, Proverbs xix. 17- He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord.
* Shakespeare- Hehas no more pity in him than a dog.
*, Folio Society, 2006, p.5:- The most usuall way to appease those minds we have offendedis, by submission to move them to commiseration and pitty .
(countable) Something regrettable.- It's a pity you're feeling unwell because there's a party on tonight.
* Laurence Sterne- It was a thousand pities .
* Addison- What pity is it / That we can die but once to serve our country!
(obsolete) piety- (Wyclif)
Synonyms
* (mercy) ruth * (something regrettable) shameVerb
(
en-verb)
To feel pity for (someone or something).* Bible, Psalms ciii. 13- Like as a father pitieth' his children, so the Lord ' pitieththem that fear him.
* 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , IV.11:- She lenger yet is like captiv'd to bee; / That even to thinke thereof it inly pitties mee.
* Book of Common Prayer- It pitieth them to see her in the dust.
Interjection
Short form of what a pity.Synonyms
* shame, what a pity, what a shame
Derived terms
* piteous * pitiable * pitiful * self-pity * what a pity