pitifully
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English petefully, petifullie, pyttyfully, pytyffully; equivalent to pitiful + -ly.
Adverb edit
pitifully (comparative more pitifully, superlative most pitifully)
- In a pitiful manner.
- 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, “The Balance Turns”, in She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC, page 198:
- The coral faded even from her lips, till they were as white as Leo's face, and quivered pitifully.