Sekirov Dictionary

pitiful

/ˈpɪt.ɪ.fl̩/

adjective 4
adverb 1
forms 4

adjective4

•
So appalling or sad that one feels or should feel sorry for it; eliciting pity.
- Scotland has a pitiful climate.
•
Of an amount or number: very small.
- A pitiful number of students bothered to turn up.
Eliciting contempt.
•
(no longer used) Feeling pity; merciful.
- Some say that Rauens foster forlorne children, / The vvhilst their ovvne birds famish in their nests: / Oh be to me though thy hard hart say no, / Nothing so kinde but something pittifull. — 1588

adverb1

•
(dialect, informal) In a pitiful manner; pitifully; piteously; pathetically.
- ‘She followed ’em, cryin’ pitiful, to the old boat on the Wall[.]’ — 1906

forms

more pitiful · pitifuller · most pitiful · pitifullest

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