PITY

Piety. [Obs.] Wyclif.

A feeling for the sufferings or distresses of another or others; sympathy with the grief or misery of another; compassion; fellow- feeling; commiseration. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord. Prov. xix. 17. He . . . has no more pity in him than a dog. Shak.

A reason or cause of pity, grief, or regret; a thing to be regretted. "The more the pity." Shak. What pity is it That we can die but once to serve our country! Addison.

To feel pity or compassion for; to have sympathy with; to compassionate; to commiserate; to have tender feelings toward (any one), awakened by a knowledge of suffering. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Ps. ciii. 13.

To move to pity; -- used impersonally. [Obs.] It pitieth them to see her in the dust. Bk. of Com. Prayer.

To be compassionate; to show pity. I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy. Jer. xiii. 14.