1. Word finder
  2. Word definitions
  3. pitifulness

Find the word definition

What is "pitifulness"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pitifulness

Pitiful \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. [1913 Webster] -- Pit"i*ful*ly, adv. -- Pit"i*ful*ness, n.

Wiktionary
pitifulness

n. The state or quality of being pitiful.

Usage examples of "pitifulness".

Vexed by a sense of his own pitifulness, this man of the world continued his pilgrimage down Broadway, which even in that desert state was full of a certain interest.

Then I suddenly had the most tremendous feeling of the pitifulness of human beings, whatever they were, their faces, pained mouths, personalities, attempts to be gay, little petulances, feelings of loss, their dull and empty witticisms so soon forgotten: Ah, for what?