The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Piteous \Pit"e*ous\, a. [OE. pitous, OF. pitos, F. piteux. See
   Pity.]
   1. Pious; devout. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            The Lord can deliver piteous men from temptation.
                                                  --Wyclif.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Evincing pity, compassion, or sympathy; compassionate;
      tender. "[She] piteous of his case." --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

            She was so charitable and so pitous.  --Chaucer.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Fitted to excite pity or sympathy; wretched; miserable;
      lamentable; sad; as, a piteous case.        --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

            The most piteous tale of Lear.        --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Paltry; mean; pitiful. "Piteous amends." --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Sorrowful; mournful; affecting; doleful; woeful; rueful;
        sad; wretched; miserable; pitiable; pitiful;
        compassionate.
        [1913 Webster] -- Pit"e*ous*ly, adv. --
        Pit"e*ous*ness, n.
        [1913 Webster]