pitiable
pronunciation
How to pronounce pitiable in British English:
UK [ˈpɪtiəbl]
How to pronounce pitiable in American English:
US [ˈpɪtiəbəl]
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- Adjective:
- inspiring mixed contempt and pity
- deserving or inciting pity
Word Origin
- pitiable (adj.)
- mid-15c., "merciful, compassionate," from Old French piteable "compassionate, merciful, pious" (13c.; Modern French pitoyable), from piteer "to pity" (see pity). Meaning "deserving pity" is recorded from late 15c. Related: Pitiably.
Example
- 1. Fifty thousand refugees have arrived at nanking in a pitiable condition .
- 2. They looked like pitiable young boys .
- 3. She had no fear of the shadows ; her sole idea seemed to be to shun mankind - or rather that cold accretion called the world , which , so terrible in the mass , is so unformidable , even pitiable , in its units .