First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1pity
noun \ˈpi-tē\
: a strong feeling of sadness or sympathy for someone or something
: something that causes sadness or disappointment
plural pit·ies
Full Definition of PITY
1
a : sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy b : capacity to feel pity
2
: something to be regretted <it's a pity you can't go>
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Origin of PITY
Middle English pite, from Anglo-French pité, from Latin pietat-, pietas piety, pity, from pius pious
Related to PITY
Synonym Discussion of PITY
pity, compassion, commiseration, condolence, sympathy mean the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another. pity implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress <felt pity for the captives>. compassion implies pity coupled with an urgent desire to aid or to spare <treats the homeless with great compassion>. commiseration suggests pity expressed outwardly in exclamations, tears, or words of comfort <murmurs of commiseration filled the loser's headquarters>. condolence applies chiefly to formal expression of grief to one who has suffered loss <expressed their condolences to the widow>. sympathy often suggests a tender concern but can also imply a power to enter into another's emotional experience of any sort <went to my best friend for sympathy> <in sympathy with her desire to locate her natural parents>.
2pity
verb
: to feel pity for (someone or something) : to feel sorry for (someone or something)
pit·iedpity·ing
Full Definition of PITY
transitive verb
: to feel pity for
intransitive verb
: to feel pity
See pity defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PITY
15th century
Related to PITY
PITY Defined for Kids
1pity
noun \ˈpi-tē\
Definition of PITY for Kids
1
: a feeling of sadness or sympathy for the suffering or unhappiness of others
2
: something that causes regret or disappointment <What a pity that you can't go.>
2pity
verb
pit·iedpity·ing
Definition of PITY for Kids
: to feel sadness and sympathy for
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