5 uses
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Definition
expressing sadness — sometimes with a plea for help
- With horror seized, the king of men descried The shaft infix'd, and saw the gushing tide: Nor less the Spartan fear'd, before he found The shining barb appear above the wound, Then, with a sigh, that heaved his manly breast, The royal brother thus his grief express'd, And grasp'd his hand; while all the Greeks around With answering sighs return'd the plaintive sound.Book 4 (31% in)
- The Fates suppress'd his labouring breath, And his eyes stiffen'd at the hand of death; To the dark realm the spirit wings its way, (The manly body left a load of clay,) And plaintive glides along the dreary coast, A naked, wandering, melancholy ghost!Book 22 (70% in)
- (she cried) what plaintive noise Invades my ear?Book 22 (87% in)
- This night my friend, so late in battle lost, Stood at my side, a pensive, plaintive ghost: Even now familiar, as in life, he came; Alas! how different! yet how like the same!Book 23 (14% in)
- A melancholy choir attend around, With plaintive sighs, and music's solemn sound: Alternately they sing, alternate flow The obedient tears, melodious in their woe.Book 24 (89% in)
There are no more uses of "plaintive" in The Iliad by Homer - (translated by: Pope).
Typical Usage
(best examples)