See Also: plain(4)(dictionary)
plain(3)(dictionary)
plain(2)(dictionary)
plain(1)(dictionary)
Plain, the(encyclopedia)
plain(dictionary)
plain(encyclopedia)
Plain(medicine)
plain 1, adjective(dictionary)
Gangetic Plain(encyclopedia)

plain (iou)



plain verb. ME.
[Old & mod. French plaign- pres. stem of plaindre from Latin plangere lament. Cf. COMPLAIN.]
verb trans. = COMPLAIN verb 1. Long obsolete exc. Scot. ME.
verb intrans. & refl. Utter lamentations, give expression to sorrow. Now poet. & dial. ME.
A. Philips Small Cause, I ween, has lusty Youth to plain.
b. = COMPLAIN verb 5. dial. M19.
verb intrans. & refl. = COMPLAIN verb 3. (Foll. by of, against, on, that.) Now arch. & dial. ME.
T. Kyd I will go plaine me to my Lord the King. Sir W. Scott Though something I might plain..Of cold respect to stranger guest.
b. verb intrans. Tell tales, inform (against, on). dial. L18.
c. verb trans. = COMPLAIN verb 4. dial. M19.
transf. & fig.
a. verb intrans. Emit a plaintive or mournful sound. M17.
M. Linskill The wind went on..sobbing, raging, plaining over the barren moor.
b. verb trans. Say in a querulous tone. E20.
plainer noun (a) Law = COMPLAINANT noun 1; (b) (now dial.) a complainer, a grumbler: ME.
plaining noun (arch.) the action of the verb; an instance of this; (a) lamentation; (a) complaint: ME.
plaining adjective (arch.) that plains; plaintive, mourning; complaining: L15.