pity

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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.

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