pity
    n 1: a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of
         others; "the blind are too often objects of pity" [syn:
         commiseration, pity, ruth, pathos]
    2: an unfortunate development; "it's a pity he couldn't do it"
       [syn: pity, shame]
    3: the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others
       and wanting to do something about it [syn: compassion,
       pity]
    v 1: share the suffering of [syn: feel for, pity,
         compassionate, condole with, sympathize with]

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.
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   2. A feeling for the sufferings or distresses of another or
      others; sympathy with the grief or misery of another;
      compassion; fellow-feeling; commiseration.
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            He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the
            Lord.                                 --Prov. xix.
                                                  17.
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            He . . . has no more pity in him than a dog. --Shak.
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   3. A reason or cause of pity, grief, or regret; a thing to be
      regretted. "The more the pity." --Shak.
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            What pity is it
            That we can die but once to serve our country!
                                                  --Addison.
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   Note: In this sense, sometimes used in the plural, especially
         in the colloquialism: "It is a thousand pities."
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   Syn: Compassion; mercy; commiseration; condolence; sympathy,
        fellow-suffering; fellow-feeling. -- Pity, Sympathy,
        Compassion. Sympathy is literally fellow-feeling, and
        therefore requiers a certain degree of equality in
        situation, circumstances, etc., to its fullest exercise.
        Compassion is deep tenderness for another under severe
        or inevitable misfortune. Pity regards its object not
        only as suffering, but weak, and hence as inferior.
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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.
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            Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord
            pitieth them that fear him.           --Ps. ciii.
                                                  13.
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   2. To move to pity; -- used impersonally. [Obs.]
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            It pitieth them to see her in the dust. --Bk. of
                                                  Com. Prayer.
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Pity \Pit"y\, v. i.
   To be compassionate; to show pity.
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         I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy. --Jer.
                                                  xiii. 14.
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PITY, n.  A failing sense of exemption, inspired by contrast.