pity

Meanings

Noun

• A feeling of sympathy at the misfortune or suffering of someone or something.
• Something regrettable.
• Piety.

Verb

• To feel pity for (someone or something).
• To make (someone) feel pity; to provoke the sympathy or compassion of.

Interjection

• Short form of what a pity.

Related

Similar words

• ruth
• shame
• shame, what a pity, what a shame

Origin

• From Middle English pitye, pitie, pittye, pitee, pite, from Anglo-Norman pité, pittee etc., from Old French pitet, pitié, from Latin pietās. See also the doublets pietà, and piety.