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Comfort vs Pity - What's the difference?

comfort | pity |

In lang=en terms the difference between comfort and pity

is that comfort is to make comfortable while pity is to feel pity for (someone or something).

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between comfort and pity

is that comfort is (obsolete) to assist or help; to aid while pity is (obsolete) piety.

As nouns the difference between comfort and pity

is that comfort is contentment, ease while pity is (uncountable) a feeling of sympathy at the misfortune or suffering of someone or something.

As verbs the difference between comfort and pity

is that comfort is to relieve the distress or suffering of; to provide comfort to while pity is to feel pity for (someone or something).

As an interjection pity is

short form of what a pity.

comfort

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Contentment, ease.
    • Sleep in comfort with our new mattress.
  • Something that offers comfort.
    • the comforts of home
  • A consolation; something relieving suffering or worry.
    • We still have the spare tire? That's a comfort at least.
  • A cause of relief or satisfaction.
    • The outcome of the peace negotiations in Moscow in 1940 was a heavy blow to the young nation, but in the same time a great comfort : at least the independency was preserved.

    Synonyms

    *

    Antonyms

    * austerity

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To relieve the distress or suffering of; to provide comfort to.
    • Rob comforted Aaron because he was lost and very sad.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men.
  • To make comfortable. (rfex)
  • (obsolete) To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate.
    • (Wyclif)
  • * Hooker
    • God's own testimony doth not a little comfort and confirm the same.
  • (obsolete) To assist or help; to aid.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I cannot help the noble chevalier: / God comfort him in this necessity!

    Synonyms

    * besoothe

    Derived terms

    * cold comfort * comfort woman * comfortable * comforter * comforting * discomfort * letter of comfort ----

    pity

    English

    Alternative forms

    * pitty (obsolete)

    Noun

  • (uncountable) A feeling of sympathy at the misfortune or suffering of someone or something.
  • * Bible, Proverbs xix. 17
    • He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Hehas no more pity in him than a dog.
  • *, Folio Society, 2006, p.5:
    • The most usuall way to appease those minds we have offendedis, by submission to move them to commiseration and pitty .
  • (countable) Something regrettable.
    • It's a pity you're feeling unwell because there's a party on tonight.
  • * Laurence Sterne
    • It was a thousand pities .
  • * Addison
    • What pity is it / That we can die but once to serve our country!
  • (obsolete) piety
    • (Wyclif)

    Synonyms

    * (mercy) ruth * (something regrettable) shame

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To feel pity for (someone or something).
  • * Bible, Psalms ciii. 13
    • Like as a father pitieth' his children, so the Lord ' pitieth them that fear him.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , IV.11:
    • She lenger yet is like captiv'd to bee; / That even to thinke thereof it inly pitties mee.
  • * Book of Common Prayer
    • It pitieth them to see her in the dust.

    Interjection

  • Short form of what a pity.

    • Synonyms

    * shame, what a pity, what a shame

    Derived terms

    * piteous * pitiable * pitiful * self-pity * what a pity ----