pity

pity [pit′ē]

n.

pl. pities [ME pite < OFr pitet < L pietas: see PIETY]

1. sorrow felt for another's suffering or misfortune; compassion; sympathy

2. the ability to feel such compassion

3. a cause for sorrow or regret

vt., vi.

pitied, pitying [< PITY the n. or < MFr pitier < OFr piter]

to feel pity (for)

——————

have pity on or take pity on

to show pity or compassion for

pityingly

adv.

SYN.- 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 pity accompanied by an urge to help or spare [moved by compassion, I did not press for payment ]; COMMISERATION implies deeply felt and openly expressed feelings of pity [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, etc. of another [he always turned to his wife for sympathy]; CONDOLENCE now usually implies a formal expression of sympathy with another in sorrow [a letter of condolence]