Where does “piteous” come from?
Piteous comes from Middle English pitous, from Old French piteus, meaning compassionate or merciful.
piteous (English): Provoking pity, compassion, or sympathy; Showing...
Definitions
- Provoking pity, compassion, or sympathy; Showing...
Ancestry of “piteous”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pitous | pitiful; miserable; wretched |
| 2 | Old French | piteus | piteous; having pity |
Words derived from “piteous”