pity Definition
pity (pit′ē)
noun pl. pit′·ies
- sorrow felt for another's suffering or misfortune; compassion; sympathy
- the ability to feel such compassion
- a cause for sorrow or regret
Etymology: ME pite < OFr pitet < L pietas: see piety
transitive verb, intransitive verb pit′·ied, pit′y·ing
to feel pity (for)
Etymology: < pitythe or < MFr pitier < OFr piter
pity Related Forms
pity Idioms
have pity on
or take pity onto show pity or compassion for
pity Synonyms
pity
n.
Compassionate feeling
sympathy, compassion, charity, commiseration, condolence, softheartedness, tenderness, pathos, compunction, understanding, mercy, forbearance, ruth, warmheartedness, kindliness, fellow feeling, brotherly love, unselfishness, benevolence, favor, philanthropy, largeheartedness, clemency, humanity; see also kindness 1.Anything that might move one to pity, sense 1
mishap, mischance, ill luck; see catastrophe, disaster, misfortune 1.
pity implies sorrow felt for another's suffering or misfortune, sometimes connoting slight contempt because the object is regarded as weak or inferior he felt pity for a man so ignorant; compassion implies sorrow for another's sufferings or trouble accompanied by an urge to help or spare moved by compassion, they did not press for payment; commiseration implies openly expressed feelings of pity or sympathetic sorrow she wept with her friend in commiseration; sympathy, in this connection, implies such kinship of feeling as enables one to really understand or even to share the sorrow, trouble, etc. of another a friend I can always turn to for sympathy; condolence now usually implies a formal expression of sympathy with another in deep sorrow a letter of condolence
have <strong>or </strong>take pity on
pity Synonyms
pity
v.
To feel pity for
feel sorry for, feel for, sympathize with, commiserate, be sorry for, condole, be sympathetic to, show sympathy, express sympathy for, feel with, bleed for, grieve with, weep for; see also comfort, sympathize.To be merciful to
spare, take pity on, show pity to, show forgiveness to, have mercy on, pardon, give quarter, put out of one's misery, reprieve, grant amnesty to; see also forgive 1.
pity Usage Examples
Object
smile: In this case you would merely remark, with a pitying smile, " DEFECTIVE Conclusion!
Converse of object
- seem: It seems almost a pity I repented the same evening.
- evoke: Pathos Poetry ( or other literature ) which evokes pity or sadness in the reader e.g. Send No Money by Philip Larkin.
- feel: They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear.
- take: They cannot take pity on a widow or do good to an orphan.
- want: She didn't want pity, didn't want to be told what she should do, should have done.
- have: Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!
Preposition: that
- none: Just a pity that none of us could afford to do any shopping there.
- author: It is a pity that Carolingian authors are silent in too much of this book.
- cannot: Pity that civilized arguments cannot be terminated in the same way!
Adjective modifier
- infinite: I lay there a long time, sobbing, " What a pity, what an infinite pity!
- great: What a great pity to see a project with such remarkable talent vanish.
- real: It is indeed a real pity, about Bob's depressions.
- little: Translate The prince who has little pity of mercy will come through death to change ( and become ) very knowledgeable.
Modifies a noun
party: Do you have a pity party and invite yourself?
Noun used with modifier
- self: Bishop Anthony also said: " Self pity will not advance the cause of the kingdom of God.
- I: Now, by my life, I pity you.
- tender: All this shews that he has a full heart of tender pity.
Possessives
sake: For pity's sake, I'm a cat.
Preposition: of
war: For nearly two hours we were buffeted by the futility of war, seared by the pity of war.
Browse dictionary entries near pity
- ‹ pituitary
- ‹ Pittsburgh
- ‹ pittosporum
- ‹ pitter-patter
- ‹ pitted
- ‹ pittance
- ‹ Pitt
- ‹ Pitot tube
- ‹ Pitot-static tube
- ‹ piton

