pity

pity
1 noun
1 (it's a) pity spoken used to show that you are disappointed about something and you wish things could happen differently
(+ (that)): Ralph's a really nice guy - pity he's not better looking. | It's a pity that Jan and George can't make it to the party. | Pity they didn't think of that earlier. | a pity to do sth: It seems a pity to waste it. | what a pity: “Did you know the concert was cancelled?” “No, what a pity.” | a great pity: There were very few locals at the meeting, which is a great pity.
2 (U) sympathy for someone who is suffering or unhappy: London's homeless need more than pity - they need practical help. | Poor man, she thought with pity, he's given up.
3 for pity's sake spoken used to show that you are very annoyed and impatient: For pity's sake just shut up and let me drive!
4 take pity on to feel sorry for someone and do something to help them: We walked on through the pouring rain until a kind driver took pity on us.
5 more's the pity spoken used after describing a situation, to show that you wish it was not true: The new staff are all women, more's the pity.
6 have pity on formal to forgive someone or treat them sympathetically
2 verb (transitive not usually in progressive) to feel sorry for someone because they are in a very bad situation: I pity anyone who has to feed a family on such a low income. | I pity Sophie having to live with that awful woman.

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pity — implies tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow for one in misery or distress. By the nineteenth century, two different kinds of pity had come to be distinguished, which we might call benevolent pity and contemptuous pity (see Kimball).… …   Wikipedia

  • pity — [pit′ē] n. pl. pities [ME pite < OFr pitet < L pietas: see PIETY] 1. sorrow felt for another s suffering or misfortune; compassion; sympathy 2. the ability to feel such compassion 3. a cause for sorrow or regret vt., vi. pitied, pitying [ …   English World dictionary

  • Pity — Pit y, n.; pl. {Pities}. [OE. pite, OF. pit[ e], piti[ e], F. piti[ e], L. pietas piety, kindness, pity. See {Pious}, and cf. {Piety}.] 1. Piety. [Obs.] Wyclif. [1913 Webster] 2. A feeling for the sufferings or distresses of another or others;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pity — ► NOUN (pl. pities) 1) a feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the sufferings of others. 2) a cause for regret or disappointment. ► VERB (pities, pitied) ▪ feel pity for. ● for pity s sake …   English terms dictionary

  • pity — (n.) early 13c., from O.Fr. pite, pitet (11c., Mod.Fr. pitié), from L. pietatem (nom. pietas) piety, affection, duty, in L.L. gentleness, kindness, pity, from pius (see PIOUS (Cf. pious)). Replaced O.E. mildheortness, lit. mild heartness, itself… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pity — [n1] feeling of mercy toward another benevolence, charity, clemency, comfort, commiseration, compassion, compunction, condolement, condolence, dejection, distress, empathy, favor, forbearance, goodness, grace, humanity, kindliness, kindness,… …   New thesaurus

  • Pity — Pit y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pitied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pitying}.] 1. To feel pity or compassion for; to have sympathy with; to compassionate; to commiserate; to have tender feelings toward (any one), awakened by a knowledge of suffering. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pity — Pit y, v. i. To be compassionate; to show pity. [1913 Webster] I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy. Jer. xiii. 14. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pity — pity·ing; pity; pity·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • pity — The type Pity we can t get this to work is an acceptable conversational shortening of It is a pity that… …   Modern English usage

  • Pity — (Pitje), holländische Benennung der japanischen u. chinesischen Scheidemünze, deren man sonst auf Java 50 auf den Stüber rechnete …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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