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Added 9 October 2026

pitiful

/ˈpɪt.ɪ.fl̩/ adjective

In Latin: miser, flēbilis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about pitiful at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Inspiring mixed contempt and pity.
their efforts were pathetic
Bad; unfortunate.
my finances were in a deplorable state
Deserving or inciting pity.
a hapless victim

Origin

From Middle English pityful, piteful, piteeful. By surface analysis, pit(i) + -ful.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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