pity

Definitions


[ˈpɪti], (Noun)

Definitions:
- the feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others
(e.g: her voice was full of pity)

- a cause for regret or disappointment
(e.g: it's a pity you didn't contact us first)


Phrases:
- for pity's sake
- more's the pity
- take pity

Origin:
Middle English (also in the sense ‘clemency, mildness’): from Old French pite ‘compassion’, from Latin pietas ‘piety’; compare with piety


[ˈpɪti], (Verb)

Definitions:
- feel sorrow for the misfortunes of
(e.g: I could see from their faces that they pitied me)


Phrases:
- for pity's sake
- more's the pity
- take pity

Origin:
Middle English (also in the sense ‘clemency, mildness’): from Old French pite ‘compassion’, from Latin pietas ‘piety’; compare with piety




definition by Oxford Dictionaries