Pious; devout. [Obs.] The Lord can deliver piteous men from temptation. Wyclif.
Evincing pity, compassion, or sympathy; compassionate; tender. "[She] piteous of his case." Pope. She was so charitable and so pitous. Chaucer.
Fitted to excite pity or sympathy; wretched; miserable; lamentable; sad; as, a piteous case. Spenser. The most piteous tale of Lear. Shak.
Paltry; mean; pitiful. "Piteous amends." Milton.
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