pity

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[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

[edit] Etymology

From Anglo-Norman pité, pittee etc., from Old French pitet, pitié, from Latin pietās.

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

pity (countable and uncountable but not used in the plural)

  1. (uncountable) A feeling of sympathy at the misfortune or suffering of someone or something.
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Folio Society 2006, p. 5:
      The most usuall way to appease those minds we have offended [...] is, by submission to move them to commiseration and pitty.
  2. (countable but not used in the plural) Something regrettable.
    It's a pity you're feeling unwell because there's a party on tonight.
    'Tis Pity She's a Whore — title of novel by John Ford

[edit] Synonyms

  • (something regrettable): shame

[edit] Translations

feeling of sympathy
something regrettable

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to pity

Third person singular
pities

Simple past
pitied

Past participle
pitied

Present participle
pitying

to pity (third-person singular simple present pities, present participle pitying, simple past and past participle pitied)

  1. (transitive) To feel pity for (someone or something).

[edit] Translations

to feel pity for someone or something

[edit] Interjection

pity!

  1. Short form of what a pity.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Translations

See what a pity

[edit] Derived terms

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