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plaintive

adjective
🔊/ˈpleɪntɪv/
🔊/ˈpleɪntɪv/
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  1. sounding sad, especially in a weak, complaining way（声音）悲伤的，哀怨的 synonym mournful
    • a plaintive cry/voice凄楚的哭泣／声音
    Topics Feelingsc2
    Oxford Collocations DictionaryPlaintive is used with these nouns:
    • cry
    • melody
    • voice
    • …
    See full entry
    Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French plaintif, -ive, from plainte ‘lamentation’, feminine past participle of plaindre ‘complain’, or from Old French plaint, from Latin planctus ‘beating of the breast’.