pity
UK[ˈpɪti]US[ˈpɪti]
n
a feeling of sadness or sympathy for someone else's unhappiness or difficult situation.
n
a cause for regret or disappointment.
v
to feel sadness or sympathy for someone's unhappiness or difficult situation.
Etymology
the modern english word 'pity' traces a fascinating path from a concept of duty to one of compassion. it entered english from old french 'pité', which itself evolved from latin 'pietās', a term encompassing duty, devotion, and familial affection. the core latin adjective 'pius', meaning dutiful or pious, originally described a righteous observance of social and religious obligations. over centuries, particularly through christian influence in medieval french and english, the meaning of the descendant word narrowed and specialized, shifting focus from the broader sense of dutifulness to the specific feeling of compassionate sorrow for others' suffering, which is its primary meaning today.
Analysis
the word 'pity' is a simplex word derived from a single root. it originates from the old french 'pité', which came from the latin 'pietās', meaning 'dutiful conduct, compassion'. the latin root is 'pius', meaning 'dutiful, pious'.
Examples
i felt great pity for the families who lost their homes in the fire.
it's a pity that the concert was cancelled due to the storm.
she pitied the lonely old man and often stopped to talk with him.