— pitiableness , n. — pitiably , adv.
/pit"ee euh beuhl/ , adj.
1. evoking or deserving pity; lamentable: pitiable, homeless children.
2. evoking or deserving contemptuous pity; miserable; contemptible: a pitiable lack of character.
[ 1425-75; late ME piteable, equiv. to pite ( er ) to PITY + -able -ABLE ]
Syn. 1, 2. See pitiful .