pit´i|ful|ness

pit´i|ful|ness
pit|i|ful «PIHT ih fuhl», adjective.
1. to be pitied; moving the heart; deserving pity; piteous; lamentable: »

a pitiful story, a pitiful sight.

2. feeling pity; feeling sorrow for the trouble of others; tender: »

The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy (James 5:11).

SYNONYM(S): compassionate, merciful.
3. deserving contempt; to be scorned; mean: »

Driving away after hitting a dog is a pitiful act.

pit´i|ful|ly, adverb.
pit´i|ful|ness, noun.
Synonym Study 1 Pitiful, piteous, pitiable mean arousing pity or to be pitied. Pitiful emphasizes the effect of pity aroused by someone or something felt to be touching or pathetic: »

The deserted children were pitiful.

Piteous emphasizes the quality in the thing itself that makes it appeal for pity and move the heart: »

Their sad faces were piteous.

Pitiable emphasizes arousing sorrow or regret, often mixed with contempt, for what deserves or needs to be pitied: »

Their bodies and clothes were in a pitiable condition.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • pit´i|ful|ly — pit|i|ful «PIHT ih fuhl», adjective. 1. to be pitied; moving the heart; deserving pity; piteous; lamentable: »a pitiful story, a pitiful sight. 2. feeling pity; feeling sorrow for the trouble of others; tender: »The Lord is very pitiful, and of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • pit|i|ful — «PIHT ih fuhl», adjective. 1. to be pitied; moving the heart; deserving pity; piteous; lamentable: »a pitiful story, a pitiful sight. 2. feeling pity; feeling sorrow for the trouble of others; tender: »The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ness — ness·ber·ry; ness·ler·iza·tion; ness·ler·ize; ness·ler s; new·fan·gled·ness; new·ness; news·i·ness; nice·ness; nig·gard·li·ness; nig·gard·ness; nigh·ness; nip·pi·ness; no·ble·ness; nois·i·ness; non·cha·lant·ness; north·er·li·ness; north·ness;… …   English syllables

  • Pitiful — Pit i*ful, a. 1. Full of pity; tender hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic. [1913 Webster] The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11. [1913 Webster] 2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. [1913 Webster] A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pitifully — Pitiful Pit i*ful, a. 1. Full of pity; tender hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic. [1913 Webster] The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11. [1913 Webster] 2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pitifulness — Pitiful Pit i*ful, a. 1. Full of pity; tender hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic. [1913 Webster] The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11. [1913 Webster] 2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Re — Re; re·able; re·absorb; re·absorption; re·accept; re·access; re·accession; re·acclimatization; re·acclimatize; re·accommodate; re·accommodation; re·accounting; re·accredit; re·accreditation; re·acetylation; re·acknowledge; re·acquaint;… …   English syllables

  • ci — aca·ci·in; ac·ci·dence; ac·ci·dens; ac·ci·dent; ac·ci·den·tal·ism; ac·ci·den·tal·ist; ac·ci·den·tal·i·ty; ac·ci·den·tal·ly; ac·ci·dent·ed; ac·ci·dent·ly; ac·ci·die; ac·ci·pit·ri·dae; ad·e·no·car·ci·no·ma; adult·i·ci·dal; ae·ci·o·spore; ae·ci·um;… …   English syllables

  • ri — abac·te·ri·al; ab·de·ri·an; ab·ka·ri; ac·an·thop·te·ri; ac·an·thu·ri·dae; ac·a·ri·a·sis; ac·a·ri·na; ac·a·ri·nar·i·um; ac·a·ri·nol·o·gy; ac·a·ri·no·sis; ac·ces·so·ri·al; ac·ces·so·ri·us; ac·ci·pit·ri·dae; ac·cus·a·to·ri·al; acera·the·ri·um;… …   English syllables

  • dis — dis·accord; dis·advantage; dis·affect; dis·aggregate; dis·ap·pear; dis·array; dis·bar; dis·burse; dis·card; dis·charge; dis·ci·ple; dis·ci·pli·nar·i·an; dis·ci·pline; dis·claim; dis·close; dis·co; dis·co·glos·sid; dis·coid; dis·coi·dal;… …   English syllables

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