1300-1400Old Frenchplaintif, from plaint; ➔ PLAINT
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Legend has it that the bridge got its name from the plaintive cries of the prisoners as they were escorted across it.
Ranulf came in with a series of plaintive questions but Corbett dismissed him with a look.
Seam combine melancholy, rage and pure plaintive yearning to devastating effect.
The melody is plaintive, not energetic like the hymns in church.
There he left them, knowing that they were safe, despite their plaintive cries.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY►plaintive cry/voice/sound etc
the plaintive cry of the seagull
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES►a plaintive melody
(=sad)· The song's plaintive melody expresses perfectly the feeling of loneliness that she feels after her lover has gone.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN►cry
· Legend has it that the bridge got its name from the plaintive cries of the prisoners as they were escorted across it.· There he left them, knowing that they were safe, despite their plaintive cries.
a plaintive sound is high, like someone crying, and sounds sadplaintive cry/voice/sound etc the plaintive cry of the seagull—plaintively adverb