pit ‧ e ‧ ous /ˈpɪtiəs/ BrE AmE adjective literary
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: piteus , from Latin pietas ; ⇨ ↑ pity 1 ]
expressing suffering and sadness in a way that makes you feel pity:
She gave a long piteous cry.
—piteously adverb