Usage Note
Apitoyer means to arouse someone's pity or compassion — apitoyer quelqu'un sur son sort (to make someone feel sorry for one's fate). The reflexive s'apitoyer sur means to feel sorry for oneself or others. S'apitoyer sur son propre sort (to wallow in self-pity) is a very common construction.
Examples
"Elle cherche à nous apitoyer."
Natural Translation
She is trying to arouse our pity.
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