Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - pity

~1 n 1 (it's a) pity spoken used to show that you are disappointed about something and you wish things could happen differently + (that)  (Ralph's a really nice guy - pity he's not better looking. | It's a pity that Jan and George can't make it to the party. | Pity they didn't think of that earlier.) a pity to do sth  (It seems a pity to waste it. | what a pity)  ("Did you know the concert was cancelled?" "No, what a pity." | a great pity)  (There were very few locals at the meeting, which is a great pity.) 2 sympathy for someone who is suffering or unhappy  (London's homeless need more than pity - they need practical help. | Poor man, she thought with pity, he's given up.) 3 for pity's sake spoken used to show that you are very annoyed and impatient  (For pity's sake just shut up and let me drive!) 4 take pity on to feel sorry for someone and do something to help them  (We walked on through the pouring rain until a kind driver took pity on us.) 5 more's the pity spoken used after describing a situation, to show that you wish it was not true  (The new staff are all women, more's the pity.) 6 have pity on formal to forgive someone or treat them sympathetically ~2 v T not usually in progressive) to feel sorry for someone because they are in a very bad situation  (I pity anyone who has to feed a family on such a low income. | I pity Sophie having to live with that awful woman.)