plaint
[ pleynt ]
/ pleɪnt /
noun
a complaint.
Law. a statement of grievance made to a court for the purpose of asking redress.
a lament; lamentation.
Nearby words
Origin of plaint
1175–1225; Middle English < Middle French < Latin planctus a striking or beating (the breast) in grief, equivalent to plang(ere) to beat, strike, mourn for + -tus, suffix of v. action
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for plaint
British Dictionary definitions for plaint
plaint
/ (pleɪnt) /
noun
archaic a complaint or lamentation
law a statement in writing of grounds of complaint made to a court of law and asking for redress of the grievance
Word Origin for plaint
C13: from Old French plainte, from Latin planctus lamentation, from plangere to beat
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for plaint
plaint
"expression of sorrow," c.1200, from Old French plainte "lament, lamentation" (12c.), from Latin planctus "lamentation, wailing, beating of the breast," from past participle stem of plangere "to lament, to strike" (see plague (n.)). Connecting notion probably is beating one's breast in grief.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper