Pit″e‐ous (?), a. [OE. pitous, OF. pitos, F. piteux. See Pity.] 1. Pious; devout.
The Lord can deliver piteous men from temptation. Wyclif.
2. Evincing pity, compassion, or sympathy; compassionate; tender. “ piteous of his case.” Pope.
She was so charitable and so pitous. Chaucer.
3. Fitted to excite pity or sympathy; wretched; miserable; lamentable; sad; as, a piteous case. Spenser.
The most piteous tale of Lear. Shak.
4. Paltry; mean; pitiful. “Piteous amends.” Milton.
Syn. — Sorrowful; mournful; affecting; doleful; woeful; rueful; sad; wretched; miserable; pitiable; pitiful; compassionate.
— Pit″e‐ous‐ly, adv. — Pit″e‐ous‐ness, n.