2. Expressive of sorrow or melancholy; mournful; sad. ``The most plaintive ditty.'' --Landor. [1913 Webster] -- {Plain"tive*ly}, adv. -- {Plain"tive*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
plaintively — plaintive ► ADJECTIVE ▪ sounding sad and mournful. DERIVATIVES plaintively adverb plaintiveness noun. ORIGIN Old French, from plaindre complain … English terms dictionary
plaintively — adverb in a plaintive manner (Freq. 1) the last note of the song rang out plaintively • Derived from adjective: ↑plaintive … Useful english dictionary
plaintively — adverb see plaintive … New Collegiate Dictionary
plaintively — See plaintive. * * * … Universalium
plaintively — adverb In a plaintive manner … Wiktionary
plaintively — Synonyms and related words: brokenheartedly, complainingly, dolefully, dolorously, fretfully, grieffully, grievously, groaningly, lamentingly, moanfully, mournfully, peevishly, petulantly, querulously, ruefully, sorrowfully, tearfully, wailfully … Moby Thesaurus
plaintively — pleɪntɪvlɪ adv. sadly, mournfully, wistfully … English contemporary dictionary
plaintively — plain·tive·ly … English syllables
plaintively — See: plaintive … English dictionary
plaintive — plaintively, adv. plaintiveness, n. /playn tiv/, adj. expressing sorrow or melancholy; mournful: a plaintive melody. [1350 1400; PLAINT + IVE; r. ME plaintif < MF] Syn. wistful, sorrowful, sad. Ant. happy, joyful. * * * … Universalium
