piteous — deserving or arousing pity; pathetic and sad
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: deserving or arousing pity; pathetic and sad
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpɪtiəs/
Example Sentences
- My cat's piteous meowing at 3 AM turned out to be a demand for premium tuna, not a cry for help.
- His piteous excuse about aliens stealing his homework didn't fool the teacher.
- The piteous state of the old building moved the city council to approve renovation funds.
piteous
ADJECTIVE[/ˈpɪtiəs/]
deserving or arousing pity; pathetic and sad
The piteous kitten shivered in the rain, looking up with huge wet eyes.
The beauteous garden lies piteous, yet the duteous gardener weeps.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Piteous derives from Middle English in the 14th century, ultimately from Latin pietas meaning 'piety' or 'compassion'. Originally denoting religious devotion and dutiful conduct, the word's meaning evolved over time to emphasize pathos and compassion, eventually describing something worthy of pity or lament.
Breakdown
pietas (pity, compassion, piety) + -ous (adjective-forming suffix, meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by'). The suffix -ous transforms the Latin noun into an English adjective.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat's piteous meowing at 3 AM turned out to be a demand for premium tuna, not a cry for help.”
“His piteous excuse about aliens stealing his homework didn't fool the teacher.”
“The piteous state of the old building moved the city council to approve renovation funds.”
“She gave him a piteous look when he ate the last piece of pizza.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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