Plaintively: meaning, definitions and examples

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plaintively

 

[ ˈpleɪntɪvli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

tone of voice

The adverb 'plaintively' describes an expression of sorrow or melancholy in a voice or manner. It is often used to convey a sense of longing or sadness when someone is communicating their feelings. When someone speaks plaintively, their tone usually invokes pity or evokes an emotional response from others. This term is often utilized in literature or poetry to emphasize deep emotional states.

Synonyms

mournfully, sadly, wistfully

Examples of usage

  • She called out plaintively, missing her lost friend.
  • The dog whined plaintively at the door, wanting to come inside.
  • He recounted his tale plaintively, drawing tears from the listeners.

Translations

Translations of the word "plaintively" in other languages:

🇵🇹 de maneira triste

🇮🇳 दुखभरे तरीके से

🇩🇪 klagend

🇮🇩 dengan sedih

🇺🇦 плаксивим тоном

🇵🇱 żaląco

🇯🇵 悲しげに

🇫🇷 d'une manière plaintive

🇪🇸 de manera quejumbrosa

🇹🇷 ağlayarak

🇰🇷 슬프게

🇸🇦 بصوت حزين

🇨🇿 žalostně

🇸🇰 žalostne

🇨🇳 悲伤地

🇸🇮 žalostno

🇮🇸 sorgmæddur

🇰🇿 жылап

🇬🇪 ტკივილით

🇦🇿 əziyyətlə

🇲🇽 de manera lamentosa

Word origin

The word 'plaintively' derives from the root word 'plaint', which comes from the Old French term 'plaindre', meaning 'to lament' or 'to complain'. This Old French term is rooted in the Latin 'planctus', which is the past participle of 'plangere', meaning 'to strike' or 'to beat' but also signifies 'to mourn'. The adverbial form of 'plaintively' emphasizes a manner of speaking or expressing feelings that is characterized by sorrowful lamentation. The development of this word reflects a long history of emotional expression in language, where the nuances of sorrow can be captured linguistically. Over time, 'plaintively' has become an essential descriptor in literary works to convey profound sadness.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,822, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.