Pit"i*ful (?), a.

1.

Full of pity; tender-hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic.

The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James v. 11.

2.

Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion.

A thing, indeed, very pitiful and horrible. Spenser.

3.

To be pitied for littleness or meanness; miserable; paltry; contemptible; despicable.

That's villainous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Shak.

Syn. -- Despicable; mean; paltry. See Contemptible.

-- Pit"i*ful*ly, adv. -- Pit"i*ful*ness, n.

© Webster 1913.