pit·y / ˈpitē/ • n. (pl. pit·ies) 1. the feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others: her voice was full of pity.2. [in sing.] a cause for regret or disappointment: what a pity we can't be friends.• v. (pit·ies, pit·ied) [tr.] feel sorrow for the misfortunes of: Clare didn't know whether to envy or pity them| [as adj.] (pitying) he gave her a pitying look. PHRASES: for pity's sake inf. used to express impatience or make an urgent appeal.more's the pity inf. used to express regret about a fact that has just been stated.take (or have) pity show compassion: they took pity on him and gave him food.DERIVATIVES: pit·y·ing·ly adv.

pity †clemency, mercy; compassion XIII; †piety XIV. ME. pite — OF. pité (mod. pitié) :— L. pietās, -tāt- PIETY. In later L. pietās acquired the sense of compassion, kindness; OF. pite and piete had both senses, but were subsequently differentiated, and this was reflected in the corr. Eng. forms as now used.
Hence pity vb. XVI, pitiable XV, pitiful XIV, pitiless XV.

Pity

of prisoners: a gang or group of prisoners—Lydgate, 1476.