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

Pity is a feeling of sadness for someone who is suffering or in trouble. tree →
«It's a pity» or «what a pity» means it is sad or a shame that something happened. tree →
To pity someone means to feel sorry for them. tree →

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 →
It's a pity you can't come to my party. tree →
What a pity the match was cancelled! tree →
The giant took pity on the hungry boy and gave him bread. tree →
She doesn't want pity; she wants help. tree →
I pity anyone who has to walk home in this storm. tree →
It would be a pity to waste all this food. tree →
That would have been a pity. tree →

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 →
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 →
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 →
For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? (Prophets JER.15.5, JPS 1917) tree →
Then was the LORD jealous for His land, and had pity on His people. (Prophets JOL.2.18, JPS 1917) tree →
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 →

Note

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «pity» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«pity» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «pity» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«pity» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.

This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pity/