piteous Hear it!

piteous Definition

pit·eous (pit′ē əs)

adjective

arousing or deserving pity or compassion

Etymology: ME piteus < MFr < OFr pitous < LL(Ec) *pietosus < pietas: see piety

piteous Related Forms

pit′·eous·ly adverb pit′·eous·ness noun

piteous Synonyms

piteous

modif.

pitiful, wretched, miserable; see pitiful 1. See syn. study at pitiful.

piteous Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • cry: A piteous human cry, a sob forlorn Thrilled to the heart of Heaven.
  • wail: One night I saw a crowd on a street and heard piteous wails.
  • spectacle: I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand to my face, and became a piteous spectacle.
  • tale: We hear of a piteous tale of a laborer who was induced to go north.