pity

pity n

ME < OFr < L. pietās, dutifulness, piety.

  1. Empathy; sensitivity to another's affliction; perception of suffering; awareness of pain; desire to relieve another's misery. (496/364, 588/394)
  2. Condescending compassion; patronizing sympathy. (229/289, 496/364)
  3. Unfortunate circumstance; regrettable fact; lamentable but unchangeable problem.
  4. [Fig.] mourning; grief; sorrow; tears of those bereaved.

pity [pitied] v

see pity, n.

  1. Feel sorry for; experience sadness for; feel sorrow in behalf of.