Pit"e*ous (?), a. [OE. pitous, OF. pitos, F. piteux. See Pity.]

1.

Pious; devout.

[Obs.]

The Lord can deliver piteous men from temptation. Wyclif.

2.

Evincing pity, compassion, or sympathy; compassionate; tender.

"[She] piteous of his case."

Pope.

She was so charitable and so pitous. Chaucer.

3.

Fitted to excite pity or sympathy; wretched; miserable; lamentable; sad; as, a piteous case.

Spenser.

The most piteous tale of Lear. Shak.

4.

Paltry; mean; pitiful.

"Piteous amends."

Milton.

Syn. -- Sorrowful; mournful; affecting; doleful; woeful; rueful; sad; wretched; miserable; pitiable; pitiful; compassionate.

-- Pit"e*ous*ly, adv. -- Pit"e*ous*ness, n.

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.