Pity
/ˈpɪti/noun
Sympathetic sorrow for someone else's suffering.
Did you know?Pity comes from Latin pietas, a word for duty, devotion, and reverence, so its history is tied to sacred obligation as much as feeling sorry for someone.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
pietas
“Duty, devotion, reverence, and loyal respect, especially to gods, family, and country.”
Old French
Old French
pité
“Compassion, mercy, pity.”
Middle English
English
pite
“Compassion, mercy, sorrow for another's suffering.”
Modern English
English
pity
“Sympathetic sorrow for someone else's suffering.”