pity

[ pit-ee ]

noun

, plural pit·ies.

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 a starving child.

   Synonyms: commiseration, compassion

2. a cause or reason for pity, sorrow, or regret:

   What a pity you could not go!

adjective

1. motivated by a sense of pity or sympathy for others or for oneself:

   It seems he got the pity vote because of his personality, but his singing just wasn’t that great.

verb (used with object)

, pit·ied, pit·y·ing.

1. to feel pity or compassion for; be sorry for; commiserate with.

verb (used without object)

, pit·ied, pit·y·ing.

1. to have compassion; feel pity.

pity

/ ˈpɪtɪ /

noun

1. sympathy or sorrow felt for the sufferings of another
2. have pity on or 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

1. tr to feel pity for

Derived Forms

• ˈpitying, adjective
• ˈpityingly, adverb

Other Words From

• out·pit·y verb (used with object) outpitied outpitying
• un·pit·ied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pity¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English pite, from Old French pite, earlier pitet, from Latin pietāt- (stem of pietās “dutiful respect, sense of duty”); piety none

Word History and Origins

Origin of pity¹

C13: from Old French pité, from Latin pietās duty

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have / take pity, to show mercy or compassion.

More idioms and phrases containing pity

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

Synonym Study

See sympathy none.

Example Sentences

After recalling his “pity party” and how he left it to his wife Pauletta to help carry out his Oscars voting duties, the “Malcom X” star said, “wine was my thing.”

From Los Angeles Times

Albin’s epiphany in “I Am What I Am” is simple yet profound: He wants neither praise nor pity, but only to be seen as his “own special creation.”

From Los Angeles Times

And they don't want your pity, the researchers said.

From Science Daily

From a distance, I stared with a mix of pity and disgust.

From Los Angeles Times

Fanning the flames for many more paragraphs, Peyser closes with, "I pity her."

From Salon

Related Words

• feel for
• forgive
• pardon