plaintive
plaintive
Definition
plain·tive (plān′tiv)
adjective
expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournful; sad
Etymology: ME pleintif < OFr plaintif: see plaintiff
plain′·tively adverb
plain′·tive·ness noun
plaintive
Synonyms
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.
Browse dictionary entries near plaintive
- plaintiff
- Plaintext
- plaint
- plainsong
- plainsman
- Plains of Abraham
- Plains Indian
- plainly
- plainclothes man
- plainchant
- plaister
- plait
- plan
- plan of reorganization
- plan position indicator
- plan-
- plan sponsor
- planar
- planarian
- planation
