Pit"e*ous (?), a. [OE. pitous,
OF. pitos, F. piteux. See Pity.]
1. Pious; devout. [Obs.]
The Lord can deliver piteous men from
temptation.
Wyclif.
2. Evincing pity, compassion, or sympathy;
compassionate; tender. "[She] 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.
