Dictionary

pathetically en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /pəˈθɛtɪkli/

Etymology

Etymology tree English pathetic Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al Middle English -ly Middle English -ally English -ally English pathetically From pathetic + -ally.

Meanings

1. In a pathetic manner; piteously.
   • Parker bared the arm, polished a little spot with a wisp of cotton saturated with alcohol, grasped the pathetically flabby skin with experienced fingers; and, tipping up the syringe, pushed the piston gently to expel the air. 1935, Lloyd C. Douglas, chapter 8, in Green Light, London: Peter Davies, page 137:
   • The sails were split, the mainyard shivered, the wind blowing fresh, the night setting in; and all our chance was to make for Corfu--or, as F. pathetically called it, 'a watery grave.' 1880, John Nichol, Byron:
   • Young, pretty, an orphan — and under such circumstances, she told her weeping tale so pathetically, so mildly, and so unhatingly towards the prisoners at the bar, that all admired, praised, loved her. 1838, Littell's Spirit of the Magazines and Annuals, page 486:
   • Well, before you have to ask and get all blushy again, I'll take you home, since you're so pathetically without wheels. 2007 April 8, Bill Cameron, chapter 8, in Lost Dog (Skin Kadash; 1), Woodbury, Minn.: Midnight Ink, →ISBN, page 102:

Forms

Translations (8)

ru умили́тельно (in a pathetic manner) · bg трогателно (in a pathetic manner) · la pathēticē (in a pathetic manner) · ru жа́лостно (in a pathetic manner) · fr pathétiquement (in a pathetic manner) · bg патетично (in a pathetic manner) · ru тро́гательно (in a pathetic manner) · ckt яйвачеты (in a pathetic manner)