Lexic.us

Definition of Pitiful

1. Adjective. Inspiring mixed contempt and pity. "Pitiful exhibition of cowardice"

2. Adjective. Bad; unfortunate. "A sorry state of affairs"

3. Adjective. Deserving or inciting pity. "A wretched life"

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

pithogues pithoi pithos piths pithsome pithy pitiable pitiableness pitiablenesses pitiably

pitiamide pitied pitier pitiers pities pitiful (current term) pitifull pitifuller pitifullest pitifully

pitifulness pitifulnesses pitiless pitilessly pitilessness pitilessnesses pitis pitlane pitlanes pitman

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. ..."

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