impiteous

English

Etymology

From im- +‎ piteous.

Adjective

impiteous (comparative more impiteous, superlative most impiteous)

1. (obsolete) Not showing pity or mercy.

   Synonyms: cruel, pitiless

   • 1547, Arthur Kelton, A Chronycle with a Genealogie Declaryng That the Brittons and Welshemen are Linealiye Dyscended from Brute‎^[1], London: Richard Grafton:

     […] cruell Ualerian
     Uoide of all fauoure, most impiteous
     Of Emperoures all, none more vngracious
     Against Christes faithe,

   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:

     The Ocean (ouer-peering of his List)
     Eates not the Flats with more impittious haste
     Then young Laertes, in a Riotous head,
     Ore-beares your Officers,

   • 1878, Tommaso Campanella, “Sonnet XXIII. The Modern Cupid”, in John Addington Symonds, transl., The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti and Tommaso Campanella‎^[2], London: Smith, Elder, page 141:

     Through full three thousand years the world reveres
     Blind Love that bears the quiver and hath wings:
     Now too he’s deaf, and to the sufferings
     Of folk in anguish turns impiteous ears.