Word Challenge!

[amberdulen]

Quick, grammaticians!

Think of a single dictionary-legitimate word that means "patheticness."

Imaginary context: She could not help but pity him for his patheticness.

Hurry, before the English language snaps under the strain of its own flexibility!

Comments

[ex_dotificu]

Ooo, that's a toughie.

His haplessness?

Do you have to only use one word?

His inadequacy?

[amberdulen]

Sure, I'd be interested if you came up with a good two-word alternative. It just seems like there should be a single word for it, a base word, but darned if I can think of it.

[mbs_bookworm]

Weakness?

[jd3000]

Piteousness is the closest, of course, that's redundant with pity. Possibly wretchedness. Or misery.

-JD

[floorlamps]

Frailty?

[roadkillroy]

Patheticness: n. The act of being pathetic See also pathetic