plaintive

Definition

Sounding sorrowful, mournful or melancholic.

Etymology

From Middle English pleintif, plentyff, from Old French pleintif (“aggrieved, lamenting”) (whence modern French plaintif), from plainte (“lament, complaint”); see plaint. Doublet of plaintiff.

Example Sentences

• "a typically plaintive song from Radiohead"
• "I can see by your plaintive smile something is wrong, so spill it."
• "When my wife and I heard a plaintive whinny from our laundry room the other day, we knew that our old dryer had cycled its last load."

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