Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: plaintif, from plaint; PLAINT

plaintive

 adjective
     
plain‧tive
a plaintive sound is high, like someone crying, and sounds sad
plaintive cry/voice/sound etc
the plaintive cry of the seagull
—plaintively adverb
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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