The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Pitiful \Pit"i*ful\, a.
   1. Full of pity; tender-hearted; compassionate; kind;
      merciful; sympathetic.
      [1913 Webster]

            The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
                                                  --James v. 11.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Piteous; lamentable; eliciting compassion.
      [1913 Webster]

            A thing, indeed, very pitiful and horrible.
                                                  --Spenser.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To be pitied for littleness or meanness; miserable;
      paltry; contemptible; despicable.
      [1913 Webster]

            That's villainous, and shows a most pitiful ambition
            in the fool that uses it.             --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Despicable; mean; paltry. See Contemptible.
        [1913 Webster] -- Pit"i*ful*ly, adv. --
        Pit"i*ful*ness, n.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

pitifully
    adv 1: to a pitiful degree; "wages were pitifully low,
           particularly the wages of women"