pitiful

adverb

No English definition recorded for this entry.

Pronunciation: /ˈpɪt.ɪ.fl̩/

Etymology: From Middle English pityful, piteful, piteeful. By surface analysis, pit(i) + -ful.

So appalling or sad that one feels or should feel sorry for it; eliciting pity.
“Scotland has a pitiful climate.”
Eliciting contempt.
Of an amount or number: very small.
“A pitiful number of students bothered to turn up.”
Feeling pity; merciful.
“Some ſay that Rauens foſter forlorne children, / The vvhilſt their ovvne birds famiſh in their neſts: / Oh be to me though thy hard hart ſay no, / Nothing ſo kinde but ſomething pittifull.”
“Straightway, he now goes on to make a full confession; whereupon the mariners became more and more appalled, but still are pitiful.”

Etymology: From Middle English pityful, piteful, piteeful. By surface analysis, pit(i) + -ful.

In a pitiful manner; pitifully; piteously; pathetically.
“‘She followed ’em, cryin’ pitiful, to the old boat on the Wall[.]’”