pity
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
- pitty (obsolete)
Etymology [edit]
From Anglo-Norman pité, pittee etc., from Old French pitet, pitié, from Latin pietās.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
pity (countable and uncountable but not used in the plural)
- (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.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, Folio Society 2006, p. 5:
- (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 play by John Ford
Synonyms [edit]
Translations [edit]
feeling of sympathy
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something regrettable
Verb [edit]
pity (third-person singular simple present pities, present participle pitying, simple past and past participle pitied)
- (transitive) To feel pity for (someone or something). [from 15th c.]
- (transitive, now regional) To make (someone) feel pity; to provoke the sympathy or compassion of. [from 16th c.]
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.11:
- She lenger yet is like captiv'd to bee; / That even to thinke thereof it inly pitties mee.
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.11:
Translations [edit]
to feel pity for someone or something
Interjection [edit]
pity!
- Short form of what a pity.
Synonyms [edit]
Translations [edit]
what a pity — see what a pity
Derived terms [edit]
Lower Sorbian [edit]
Verb [edit]
pity
- perfect passive participle of piś
Declension [edit]
Declension of pity
| Masculine singular | Feminine singular | Neuter singular | Dual | Plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | pity | pita | pite | pitej | pite |
| Genitive | pitego | piteje | pitego | piteju | pitych |
| Dative | pitemu | pitej | pitemu | pityma | pitym |
| Accusative | pity pitego (animate) |
pitu | pite | pitej piteju (animate) |
pite pitych (optional animate form) |
| Instrumental | pitym | piteju | pitym | pityma | pitymi |
| Locative | pitem | pitej | pitem | pityma | pitych |