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Pitifully: meaning, definitions and examples

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pitifully

 

[ ˈpɪtɪfəli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

emotional state

Pitifully is used to describe something done in a manner that evokes feelings of pity or compassion. It often indicates a sense of weakness or inadequacy.

Synonyms

disgracefully, lamentably, pathetically

Examples of usage

  • She cried pitifully when her dog ran away.
  • The child looked up at her pitifully, hoping for help.
  • He performed pitifully in the competition, unable to meet the required standards.

Translations

Translations of the word "pitifully" in other languages:

🇵🇹 lamentavelmente

🇮🇳 दुखद रूप से

🇩🇪 erbärmlich

🇮🇩 menyedihkan

🇺🇦 жалюгідно

🇵🇱 żałośnie

🇯🇵 哀れに

🇫🇷 pitoyablement

🇪🇸 lastimosamente

🇹🇷 acınacak şekilde

🇰🇷 비참하게

🇸🇦 بؤس

🇨🇿 žalostně

🇸🇰 žalostne

🇨🇳 可怜地

🇸🇮 žalostno

🇮🇸 hörmulega

🇰🇿 қайғылы түрде

🇬🇪 დაწყვეტილად

🇦🇿 faciəvi şəkildə

🇲🇽 lamentablemente

Word origin

The word 'pitifully' is derived from the adjective 'pitiful,' which comes from the Middle English word 'pitifull' meaning full of pity. This term traces back to the Old French word 'piteux' and further to the Latin 'pietate,' which relates to feelings of compassion and sympathy. As a diminutive form, 'pitifully' expresses the manner of being deserving of pity. The development of the word reflects a long-standing human response to suffering and vulnerability, indicating its emotional weight in language. Over time, 'pitifully' has retained its connotation of evoking sadness or causing an empathetic reaction from observers.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,503, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.