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

Words nearby plaint

Plains of Abraham, plainsong, plain-spoken, plainstones, plain suit, plaint, plaintext, plaintiff, plaintive, plain tripe, plain turkey

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How to use plaint in a sentence

He could not help but voice that plaint, as he had so many times before during that foggy, nightmare journey.
Star Born|Andre Norton
There was no anger, however, in her voice, and not even a harsh plaint; only a detached accepted disenchantment.
The Awkward Age|Henry James
Slight as had been the light it provoked remonstrances and down the deck the plaint of a woman was heard.
The Wasted Generation|Owen Johnson
The Blue Bird heard this and did not lose a word, but waited to see who the lady was who had such a sorry plaint.
Edmund Dulacs Fairy-Book|Edmund Dulac

At times it resembled the mournful plaint of the lonely dove, and then died away like the last notes of the expiring swan.
Wild Western Scenes|John Beauchamp Jones

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

plaint

Origin of plaint

Words nearby plaint

Words related to plaint

How to use plaint in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for plaint

Word Origin for plaint