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Definition of Pitiful
1. Adjective. Inspiring mixed contempt and pity. "Pitiful exhibition of cowardice"
2. Adjective. Bad; unfortunate. "A sorry state of affairs"
Similar to: Bad
Derivative terms: Lament, Sadness, Sorriness
3. Adjective. Deserving or inciting pity. "A wretched life"
Similar to: Unfortunate
Derivative terms: Miserableness, Pathos, Pity, Pity, Wretchedness
Definition of Pitiful
1. a. Full of pity; tender-hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic.
Definition of Pitiful
1. Adjective. (rare) Feeling pity; merciful. ¹
2. Adjective. So appalling or sad that one feels or should feel sorry for it; eliciting pity. ¹
3. Adjective. Very small (of an amount or number). ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Pitiful
1. arousing pity [adj -FULLER, -FULLEST]
Medical Definition of Pitiful
1. 1. Full of pity; tender-hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic. "The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." (James v. 11) 2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion. "A thing, indeed, very pitiful and horrible." (Spenser) 3. To be pitied for littleness or meanness; miserable; paltry; contemptible; despicable. "That's villainous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it." (Shak) Synonym: Despicable, mean, paltry. See Contemptible. Pit"ifully, Pit"ifulness. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Pitiful
Literary usage of Pitiful
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Republic of Plato by Plato, Benjamin Jowett (1881)
"... a golden or silver parent has an admixture of brass and iron, then nature
orders a transposition of ranks, and the eye of the ruler must not be pitiful ..."
2. Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testament by John Brown (1818)
"10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children : they were
their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people. ..."
3. The Republic of Plato by Plato, Benjamin Jowett (1881)
"... a golden or silver parent has an admixture of brass and iron, then nature
orders a transposition of ranks, and the eye of the ruler must not be pitiful ..."
4. Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testament by John Brown (1818)
"10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children : they were
their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people. ..."