Pitiable, a.
Etymology: [Cf. OF. pitiable, F. pitoyable.]
Deserving pity; wworthy of, or exciting, compassion; miserable; lamentable; piteous; as, pitiable persons; a pitiable condition; pitiable wretchedness.
Syn. -- Sorrowful; woeful; sad. See Piteous. -- Pit"i*a*ble*ness, n. -- Pit"i*a*bly, adv.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for pitiable; he lists it under pitiful.
Where he writes about it:
Pitiful and pitiable now refer to what may be deserving of pity, pitiful being used chiefly for that which is merely an object of thought, pitiable for that which is brought directly before the senses; as, a pitiful story; a pitiable object; a pitiable condition. — from pitiful
Since pity, however, always implies weakness or inferiority in that which is pitied, pitiful and pitiable are often used, by an easy transition, for what might awaken pity, but does awaken contempt; as, a pitiful excuse; he presented a pitiable appearance. — from pitiful