adjective
- evoking or deserving pity; lamentable: pitiable, homeless children.
- evoking or deserving contemptuous pity; miserable; contemptible: a pitiable lack of character.
adjective
- exciting or deserving pity or contempt
adj.mid-15c., “merciful, compassionate,” from Old French piteable “compassionate, merciful, pious” (13c.; Modern French pitoyable), from piteer “to pity” (see pity). Meaning “deserving pity” is recorded from late 15c. Related: Pitiably.