Where does “pitiful” come from?
Pitiful comes from Middle English pityful, meaning deserving of or inspiring pity.
pitiful (English): Feeling pity; merciful; So appalling or sad that...
Definitions
- Feeling pity; merciful; So appalling or sad that...
Ancestry of “pitiful”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pityful | — |
Words derived from “pitiful”