According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the meanings coexisted for centuries. The earliest cite of the word is from 1449, but in that use it means "full of piety." ("Encrece thow rightwisnes to piteful men.") This meaning lasted at least through 1570.
In the sense of "Full of or characterized by pity; compassionate, merciful, tender" the first cite is from 1491 {"Thenne this pytefull man...dyde almesse.") and the last from 1875 ("Why did our Divine Master, pitiful and tender as He is, speak so sternly?") Shakespeare used the word this way in 1595 ("The Wall is high and yet will I leape downe. Good ground, be pittifull and hurt me not.")
Meaning "Fitted to excite pity; pitiable" the first cite is from 1450 ("This ded body that lyth here in grave, Wrapped in a petefull plyght") and the last from 1871.
Meaning "To be pitied for its littleness or meanness...contemptible" the first cite is 1582 ("Feare shews pitfle crauens.") and the last from 1874.
It must have been later than that that the one meaning pushed the other out of the language, and made the word "pitiable" sound archaic.
I have access through a portable information-storage system known as a "book." It's the compact edition (the one with four original pages printed on each current page; it comes with a magnifying glass, but I'm so myopic I don't use it), and it's pretty old by now. I got it free with a book club membership back in the early 80s. Definitely a lot of fun browsing through it. Maybe you could find a cheap used one.
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According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the meanings coexisted for centuries. The earliest cite of the word is from 1449, but in that use it means "full of piety." ("Encrece thow rightwisnes to piteful men.") This meaning lasted at least through 1570.
In the sense of "Full of or characterized by pity; compassionate, merciful, tender" the first cite is from 1491 {"Thenne this pytefull man...dyde almesse.") and the last from 1875 ("Why did our Divine Master, pitiful and tender as He is, speak so sternly?") Shakespeare used the word this way in 1595 ("The Wall is high and yet will I leape downe. Good ground, be pittifull and hurt me not.")
Meaning "Fitted to excite pity; pitiable" the first cite is from 1450 ("This ded body that lyth here in grave, Wrapped in a petefull plyght") and the last from 1871.
Meaning "To be pitied for its littleness or meanness...contemptible" the first cite is 1582 ("Feare shews pitfle crauens.") and the last from 1874.
It must have been later than that that the one meaning pushed the other out of the language, and made the word "pitiable" sound archaic.
Which is pitiable.
I am envious of your OED access. I can't justify the cost, but there are times that I would love to peek in.
I have access through a portable information-storage system known as a "book." It's the compact edition (the one with four original pages printed on each current page; it comes with a magnifying glass, but I'm so myopic I don't use it), and it's pretty old by now. I got it free with a book club membership back in the early 80s. Definitely a lot of fun browsing through it. Maybe you could find a cheap used one.
I'm adding it to my birthday list.
If you can still be feckless, can you be feckful?
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