the plaintive cry of the seagullplaintiveplain‧tive /ˈpleɪntɪv/ adjective 
the plaintive cry of the seagull—plaintively adverb
WORD ORIGINplaintive
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French plaintif, from plaint; ➔ PLAINTEXAMPLES 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 FROM THE ENTRY the plaintive cry of the seagullCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a plaintive sound is high, like someone crying, and sounds sadplaintive cry/voice/sound etc the plaintive cry of the seagull (=sad)· The song's plaintive melody expresses perfectly the feeling of loneliness that she feels after her lover has gone.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· 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.
the plaintive cry of the seagull—plaintively adverb