ˈpid.]ēfəl, -it], ]əf-\ adjective
( sometimes pitifuller sometimes pitifullest )
Etymology: Middle English petefull, from pete, pite, pitie pity + -full, -ful -ful — more at pity
1.
a. : deserving or arousing pity : exciting or being such as to excite compassion
one of those pitiful refugees of which Europe was full — Upton Sinclair
b. : deserving or arousing contemptuous commiseration or pitying contempt : contemptible
the pitiful wage scale — H.S.Truman
2. archaic : full of pity : compassionate , merciful
be pitiful to my great woe — John Keats