Pitiful

Pronunciation: /ˈpɪtɪfəl/

Definitions of pitiful

adjective pitiful is an adjective that describes something that evokes or deserves pity or compassion, often due to being weak, sad, or inadequate.

Example Sentences

A1 The puppy looked pitiful with its sad eyes.

A2 She made a pitiful attempt at singing the song.

B1 The condition of the orphanage was pitiful, with limited resources and staff.

B2 The pitiful sight of the homeless man sleeping on the street tugged at her heartstrings.

C1 Despite his pitiful excuses, he was still held accountable for his actions.

C2 The pitiful state of the war-torn country left a lasting impact on her.

Examples of pitiful in a Sentence

formal The state of the orphanage was pitiful, with dilapidated buildings and limited resources.

informal It's pitiful how much he struggles with basic math.

slang She looked pitiful after getting soaked in the rain.

figurative His attempt at cooking was pitiful, resulting in a burnt and inedible mess.

Grammatical Forms of pitiful

• past tense: pitied
• plural: pitifuls
• comparative: more pitiful
• superlative: most pitiful
• present tense: pities
• future tense: will pity
• perfect tense: have pitied
• continuous tense: is pitying
• singular: pitiful
• positive degree: pitiful
• infinitive: to pity
• gerund: pitying
• participle: pitied

Origin and Evolution of pitiful

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'pitiful' originated from the Old French word 'pitie' meaning 'pity' or 'compassion'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'pitiful' evolved to encompass a sense of sympathy or sorrow towards someone or something in a distressing situation, as well as a sense of inadequacy or inferiority.