From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpiteouspit‧e‧ous /ˈpɪtiəs/ adjective literary SYMPATHIZEexpressing suffering and sadness in a way that makes you feel pity She gave a long piteous cry. —piteously adverb
Examples from the Corpus
piteous• The massacre was shameful, the losses piteous.• the piteous cries of hungry children• A piteous cry revealed the occupants' identity.• Nor did he have to present himself as piteous in order to feed his everlasting hunger for sympathy.• Angry, snarling crying; piteous moaning.• But finally she is apparently moved by the piteous sight of the distressed supplicant and laboriously counts out 995 roubles change.• Irritable, piteous wailing, even a snarling cry.• Grin stood at the top of the stairway and let out a piteous yowl.Origin piteous (1200-1300) Old French piteus, from Latin pietas; → PITY1 