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PITEOUS
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Deserving or inciting pity
Example:
a wretched life
Synonyms:
hapless; miserable; misfortunate; pathetic; piteous; pitiable; pitiful; poor; wretched
Classified under:
Similar:
unfortunate (not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune)
Derivation:
pity (an unfortunate development)
pity (a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others)
Context examples:
Twins, by Jupiter! was all he said for a minute, then turning to the women with an appealing look that was comically piteous, he added, Take 'em quick, somebody! I'm going to laugh, and I shall drop 'em.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
