a. [f. L. commiserā-ri to COMMISERATE + -BLE: cf. miserable.]
1. Deserving commiseration; pitiable, lamentable.
1609. Sir E. Hoby, Lett. to T. H., Ded. To all Romish Collapsed Ladies of Great Bretaine, Commiserable Ladies.
a. 1626. Bacon, Lett. to K. James, in T. Mathews, Coll. Lett. (1660), 46. All commiserable persons, (especially such as find their hearts voide of malice) are apt to think, that all men pitty them.
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1692), 201. Their commiserable condition.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnar., Poet. Wks. 1721, II. 78. Thy Ears will open be, To hear the least commiserable Plea.
1873. F. Hall, Mod. Eng., 193, note. Acutely conscious what commiserable objects I consent to be ranked with, for my hesitation at undisprivacied, I do not only hesitate at it, but protest against it, explicitly and emphatically.
† 2. Showing commiseration; pitying, compassionate. Obs. rare.
1618. T. Gainsford, P. Warbeck, in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793), 83. Neither gentleman, nor man of worth, hath extended a … commiserable arm of assistance towards you.
