pity
noun /ˈpɪti/
/ˈpɪti/
Word Family
Idioms - pity noun verb
- pitiful adjective
- pitiless adjective
- pitiable adjective
- piteous adjective
- [singular] used to show that you are disappointed about something synonym shame
- a pity (that…) It's a pity that you can't stay longer.
- ‘I've lost it!’ ‘Oh, what a pity.’
- What a pity that she didn't tell me earlier.
- This dress is really nice. Pity it's so expensive.
- Oh, that's a pity.
- It would be a great pity if you gave up now.
- a pity to do something It seems a pity to waste this food.
Extra Examples- That would be rather a pity, wouldn't it?
- The place was great, but it was a pity about the weather.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- real
- pity about
- a bit of a pity
- such a pity
- what a pity
- …
- [uncountable] a sad feeling caused by the pain and troubles of others
- I took pity on her and lent her the money.
- (formal) I beg you to have pity on him.
- I don't want your pity.
- a look/feeling/surge of pity
- pity for somebody/something I could only feel pity for what they were enduring.
- He had no pity for her.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsc1- I threw the child some money out of pity.
- I took pity on him and allowed him to stay.
- She was full of pity for him.
- We begged him to have pity on us.
- a cruel leader without pity
- an unfortunate man who inspires pity
- She experienced a sudden feeling of pity for the young man.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + pity- be filled with
- be full of
- feel
- …
- out of pity
- without pity
- pity for
- …
- a feeling of pity
- a sense of pity
- have pity on somebody
- …
Word OriginMiddle English (also in the sense ‘clemency, mildness’): from Old French pite ‘compassion’, from Latin pietas ‘piety’; compare with piety.
Idioms
more’s the pity
- (informal) unfortunately
- ‘Was the bicycle insured?’ ‘No, more's the pity!’