[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pity/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / pity # pity noun (pity — uncountable; a pity); verb (pity, pities, pitied, pitying) «pity» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Pity is a feeling of sadness for someone who is suffering or in trouble. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#m1) 2. «It's a pity» or «what a pity» means it is sad or a shame that something happened. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#m2) 3. To pity someone means to feel sorry for them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#m3) ### In the lessons In stories pity shows a character's kind heart, or sometimes that they look down on someone. In everyday life people say «What a pity!» when a plan fails, a trip is cancelled or rain spoils a game. Phrases: feel pity for, take pity on (help someone because you feel sorry for them), it's a pity that, what a pity, out of pity. ### Examples - I felt pity for the lost puppy in the rain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#x1) - It's a pity you can't come to my party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#x2) - What a pity the match was cancelled! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#x3) - The giant took pity on the hungry boy and gave him bread. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#x4) - She doesn't want pity; she wants help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#x5) - I pity anyone who has to walk home in this storm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#x6) - It would be a pity to waste all this food. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#x7) - That would have been a pity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/#x8) ### Note Mostly uncountable as a feeling: «full of pity», not «pities». But «a pity» = a shame: «It's a pity». Past of the verb: pitied (y changes to i). Pity is not the same as kindness: some people dislike pity because it can feel like being looked down on; «sympathy» or «compassion» sound warmer. «Pitiful» means very sad or very poor. ## In Jewish tradition It is used in the laws of punishment and of idol-worship, where pity must not stop justice. **Interpretation.** The rabbis explain that this does not mean cruelty: for money damages "eye for eye" means payment, and judges must not twist the law out of sympathy. ### Examples - then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall have no pity. (Torah DEU.25.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pity/#x1) - And thine eye shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. (Torah DEU.19.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pity/#x2) - thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him; (Torah DEU.13.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pity/#x3) - For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? (Prophets JER.15.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pity/#x4) - Then was the LORD jealous for His land, and had pity on His people. (Prophets JOL.2.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pity/#x5) - and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.' (Prophets 2SA.12.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pity/#x6) ### Note Mostly uncountable as a feeling: «full of pity», not «pities». But «a pity» = a shame: «It's a pity». Past of the verb: pitied (y changes to i). Pity is not the same as kindness: some people dislike pity because it can feel like being looked down on; «sympathy» or «compassion» sound warmer. «Pitiful» means very sad or very poor. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «pity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«pity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pity.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «pity» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«pity» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/pity.html) on Mova free.