plaintive Hear it!

plaintive Definition

plain·tive (plān′tiv)

adjective

expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournful; sad

Etymology: ME pleintif < OFr plaintif: see plaintiff

plaintive Related Forms
plain′·tively adverb plain′·tive·ness noun
plaintive Synonyms

plaintive

modif.

melancholy, pitiful, mournful; see sad 2.

plaintive Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • cry: There is often a plaintive cry going up for " has anyone got any scissors?
  • plea: A plaintive plea for a return to the old days of rather looser money?
  • melody: The second movement is a based on a slow, plaintive melody in 5/4 time.
  • vocal: These tracks are full of stark piano, atmospheric synths and plaintive vocals.
  • tone: Frankie Machine's plaintive acoustic tone avoids Kings of Convenience dreariness with some taut arrangements, laconic melodies and sudden, potent lyrics.
  • voice: Willow's plaintive voice followed her: " Dawn!

Modifying Another Word

  • very: And the bit with the carol singers is very plaintive.
  • almost: He gave me a quizzical, almost plaintive look.
  • somewhat: That night was pretty bad, no sleep from three o'clock, therefore somewhat plaintive in the morning.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: Posted 2 years ago on April 25 2005 An update on the boiler... Its noises have become much more plaintive of late.