Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: pité, from Latin pietas 'piety, pity', from pius; PIOUS

pity

1 noun
     
pit‧y1 S3
1

a pity

spoken used to show that you are disappointed about something and you wish things could happen differently [= shame]
(it's a) pity (that)
It's a pity that he didn't accept the job.
It's a great pity Joyce wasn't invited.
I like Charlie. Pity he had to marry that awful woman.
A pity we can't find the guy who did it.
what/that's a pity
'Are you married?' 'No.' 'What a pity.'
it's a pity to do something
It would be a pity to give up now - you've nearly finished.
2 [uncountable] sympathy for a person or animal who is suffering or unhappy [↪ piteous, pitiable, pitiful, pitiless]
pity for
He looked exhausted, but Marie felt no pity for him.
I listened to Jason's story with pity.
I hated the thought of being an object of pity (=someone who other people feel sorry for).
take/have pity on somebody (=feel sorry for someone and treat them with sympathy)
He sounded so upset that Leah started to take pity on him.
3

for pity's sake

British English spoken used to show that you are very annoyed and impatient:
For pity's sake just shut up and let me drive!
4

more's the pity

spoken especially British English used after describing a situation, to show that you wish it was not true:
Sue's not coming, more's the pity.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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