Plaintive
/ˈpleɪntɪv/ adj
adj ·Uncommon ·College level
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Sounding sorrowful, mournful or melancholic.
"a typically plaintive song from Radiohead"
Adjective
- 1 expressing sorrow wordnet
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"The plaintive melody broke her heart."
Etymology
From Middle English pleintif, plentyff, from Old French pleintif (“aggrieved, lamenting”) (whence modern French plaintif), from plainte (“lament, complaint”); see plaint. Doublet of plaintiff.