— pitifully , adv. — pitifulness , n.
/pit"i feuhl/ , adj.
1. evoking or deserving pity: a pitiful fate.
2. evoking or deserving contempt by smallness, poor quality, etc.: pitiful attempts.
3. Archaic. full of pity; compassionate.
[ 1400-50; late ME; see PITY, -FUL ]
Syn. 1. lamentable, deplorable, woeful, pathetic. 1, 2 . PITIFUL, PITIABLE, PITEOUS apply to that which excites pity (with compassion or with contempt). That which is PITIFUL is touching and excites pity or is mean and contemptible: a pitiful leper; a pitiful exhibition of cowardice. PITIABLE may mean lamentable, or wretched and paltry: a pitiable hovel. PITEOUS refers only to that which exhibits suffering and misery, and is therefore heart-rending: piteous poverty. 2. deplorable, mean, low, base, vile, despicable.
Ant. 1. delightful. 2. honorable.