Piteously: meaning, definitions and examples

😢
Add to dictionary

piteously

 

[ ˈpɪt.i.əs.li ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

manner of action

In a manner that arouses pity; with great sorrow or compassion. It describes an action performed in a way that evokes feelings of sympathy or concern for someone’s suffering.

Synonyms

compassionately, mournfully, pitifully, sorrowfully

Examples of usage

  • She looked at him piteously when he lost the game.
  • The dog howled piteously after being abandoned.
  • He piteously begged for another chance.
  • The child cried piteously for her lost toy.

Translations

Translations of the word "piteously" in other languages:

🇵🇹 de maneira patética

🇮🇳 दीन-हीनता से

🇩🇪 mitleidserregend

🇮🇩 secara menyedihkan

🇺🇦 жалюгідно

🇵🇱 żałosny

🇯🇵 哀れみをもって

🇫🇷 de manière pitoyable

🇪🇸 de manera patética

🇹🇷 acı bir şekilde

🇰🇷 비참하게

🇸🇦 بأسلوب مؤلم

🇨🇿 trápně

🇸🇰 ľutostivo

🇨🇳 可怜地

🇸🇮 obupno

🇮🇸 fátækt

🇰🇿 қайғылы түрде

🇬🇪 ჭირსთან დაკავშირებით

🇦🇿 bədii şəkildə

🇲🇽 de manera patética

Etymology

The word 'piteously' stems from the Middle French 'piteux', which means 'pitiable'. This, in turn, comes from the Latin 'pietas', meaning 'pity' or 'compassion'. The suffix '-ly' indicates that it is an adverb, modifying how an action is performed. The evolution of the word reflects the deep emotional resonance associated with pity and compassion throughout history. In literature and speech, 'piteously' has often been used to enhance the emotional impact of a narrative or plea, highlighting moments of sorrow and deep vulnerability. This usage has been prevalent in poetry and dramatic works, underscoring its significance in evoking sympathy from the audience.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,675, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.