Piteous \Pit"e*ous\, a. [OE. pitous, OF. pitos, F. piteux. See
   {Pity}.]
   1. Pious; devout. [Obs.]
      
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            The Lord can deliver piteous men from temptation.
                                                  --Wyclif.
      
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   2. Evincing pity, compassion, or sympathy; compassionate;
      tender. "[She] piteous of his case." --Pope.
      
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            She was so charitable and so pitous.  --Chaucer.
      
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   3. Fitted to excite pity or sympathy; wretched; miserable;
      lamentable; sad; as, a piteous case.        --Spenser.
      
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            The most piteous tale of Lear.        --Shak.
      
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   4. Paltry; mean; pitiful. "Piteous amends." --Milton.
      
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   Syn: Sorrowful; mournful; affecting; doleful; woeful; rueful;
        sad; wretched; miserable; pitiable; pitiful;
        compassionate.
        
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 -- {Pite*ous*ly}, adv. --
        {Pite*ous*ness}, n.
        
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