c. 1300, "merciful, compassionate" (implied in pitifully), from pity + -ful. Sense of "exciting or deserving pity" is from mid-15c.; that of "mean, wretched, contemptible" is 1580s. Related: Pitifulness.
雙語例句
1. Mace still remembers the pitiful wailing of the trapped and the wounded.
梅斯依然還記得那些被困者和受傷者的令人同情的哀號.
來自柯林斯例句
2. She heard him let out a pitiful, muffled groan.
她聽到他發(fā)出一聲令人悲憫的低沉的呻吟聲。
來自柯林斯例句
3. He sounded both pitiful and eager to get what he wanted.
他聽起來既可憐兮兮的，又對想要的東西充滿渴望。
來自柯林斯例句
4. No one could look at such a pitiful sight with dry eyes.
見此慘狀,無不落淚.
來自《現(xiàn)代漢英綜合大詞典》
5. The girl's pitiful history would wring one's withers.