/ ˈpɪti; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] pity (for sb/sth) a feeling of sympathy and sadness caused by the suffering and troubles of others :
I could only feel pity for what they were enduring.
a look / feeling / surge of pity
I took pity on her and lent her the money.
( formal )
I beg you to have pity on him.
I don't want your pity.
2.
[ sing. ] a ~ (that ... ) | a ~ (to do sth) used to show that you are disappointed about sth
SYN shame :
It's a pity that you can't stay longer.
'I've lost it!' 'Oh, what a pity .'
What a pity that she didn't tell me earlier.
It seems a pity to waste this food.
This dress is really nice. Pity it's so expensive.
Oh, that's a pity .
It would be a great pity if you gave up now.
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IDIOMS
- more's the pity
■ verb
( pit·ies , pity·ing , pit·ied , pit·ied ) (not used in the progressive tenses) to feel sorry for sb because of their situation; to feel pity for sb :
[ vn ]
He pitied people who were stuck in dead-end jobs.
Compulsive gamblers are more to be pitied than condemned.
[ vn -ing ]
I pity her having to work such long hours.
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WORD FAMILY
pity noun verb
pitiful adjective
pitiless adjective
pitiable adjective
piteous adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (also in the sense clemency, mildness ): from Old French pite compassion, from Latin pietas piety; compare with piety .