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pit·y (p t )n. pl. pit·ies 1. Sympathy and sorrow aroused by the misfortune or suffering of another. 2. A matter of regret: It's a pity she can't attend the reception. v. pit·ied, pit·y·ing, pit·ies Idiom: have/take pity on To show compassion for.
[Middle English pite, from Old French, from Latin piet s, piety, compassion, from pius, dutiful.]
pit y·ing·ly adv. Synonyms: pity, compassion, commiseration, sympathy, condolence, empathy These nouns signify kindly concern aroused by the misfortune, affliction, or suffering of another. Pity often implies a feeling of sorrow that inclines one to help or to show mercy: felt pity for the outcast. Compassion denotes deep awareness of the suffering of another and the wish to relieve it: "Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism" (Hubert H. Humphrey). Commiseration signifies the expression of pity or sorrow: expressed their commiseration over the failure of the experiment. Sympathy denotes the act of or capacity for sharing in the sorrows or troubles of another: "They had little sympathy to spare for their unfortunate enemies" (William Hickling Prescott). Condolence is a formal, conventional expression of pity, usually to relatives upon a death: extending condolences to the bereaved family. Empathy is an identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives: Having changed schools several times as a child, I feel empathy for the transfer students. |
Pitying of turtledoves: modern version of a dole of doves— Bk. of St. Albans, 1486.
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