English
piteous
Piteous comes from Old French piteus.
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400piteus
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500pitous‘pitiful’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1382–1395piteous
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400piteus
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500pitous‘pitiful’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1382–1395piteous
Earliest quotation: c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe et al., The Holy Bible: “For the Lord kan delyuere piteuouse men fro temptacioun,…”
Every English word from Old French piteus
Today it means
adj Provoking pity, compassion, or sympathy.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old French piteus / piteous