plainly 
ly; h ^ilj ; bluntly ; frankly. (if) With- 
I r * nilx-lliiihiueiit ; simply; soberly: as, a 
lady plainly dressed. 
plainness (plan'ncs), . The state or quality 
of being plain, (a) Evenness of surface; levelneas. 
(6) Absence of ornament ; lack of artificial show, (r) ( IJK-II 
ness ; candor ; blunt or unpolished frankness. Id) (Tear- 
s; distinctness; Intelligibility, (t) Lack of Iwauty ; 
L-flyn. <d) Cttanum, Lucidity, etc. See per- 
plain-pug (plan'pug), n. A British geometrid 
moth, Kit/iitlm-Hi mitmotata. 
plain-singing (plan 'sing 'ing), n. Same as 
plain-xonij. /('. Mason, Eng. Church Music, iii. 
[Rare.] 
plainsman (plan/.'man), *.; pi. plainsmen 
l-ineiit. A dweller on the plains. 
These plainsmen are far from being so heterogeneous a 
people as is commonly supposed. 
T. lloimeivll. Hunting Trips, p. G. 
plain-song (plan'siing), a. 1. The unisonous 
vocal music which has been used in the Chris- 
tian church from its earliest centuries. Its ori- 
gin Is unknown, but It contains elements taken from 
the ancient (Ireek music, and possibly also from the an- 
cient Temple music of the Hebrew.. It Is often caUcd 
Ureaorian, from Its most prominent early systematize!-, 
or. in certain details, Ambrotian. It rests upon an claim 
rate system of octave scales or mode.. (See model, 7.) 
According to the principles and rules of these modes, 
numerous melodies have been composed or compiled, 
which have In-come established by tradition or authority 
as parts of the liturgies of the Western Church In gen- 
eral and of the modern Roman Catholic Church in par- 
ticular. Tills body of melodies includes a great variety 
of material adapted not only to every part of the liturgy, 
but to the several seasons of the Christian year. Plain- 
song melodies are distinguished by adherence to the me- 
dieval modes, by fiidependenceof rhythmical and metrical 
structure, and ny a limited and austere use of harmony. 
Their effect Is strikingly individual, dignified, and devo- 
tional. Tile style as such is obligatory in the services of 
the Roman Catholic Church, and has been perpetuated 
there with remarkable purity, in spite of It. contrast* with 
modern music in general. It has exerted a profound in- 
fluence upon general musical development, dominating 
that development until nearly Ifluo, and furnishing innu- 
merable hints and themes to all subsequent styles. The 
medieval theory of counterpoint was a direct outgrowth 
of the melodic principle of plain-song. See Greijirrian, 
tone, modal, antiphon, iiitnnt, and prick-song. 
2. A cautus lirmiis or theme chosen for contra- 
puntal treatment: so called because often an 
actual fragment of plain-song. 3. The simple 
notes of an air, without ornament or variation ; 
hence, a plain, unexaggerated statement. 
All the ladle. ... do plainly report 
That without mention of them you can make no sport; 
They are your playne Sony, to singe descant upon. 
h. Kdieanlt, Umi.ni and Pythias. 
The humour of It I. too hot, that is the very plain-song 
of It. Shale., Hen. V., III. 2. 6. 
Audi. Lingua, Ulou strikest too much upon one string, 
Thv tedious pltiin-nonff grates my tender ears. 
l.in. Tis plain, Indeed, for truth no dlftcant needs. 
llreirer. Lingua, I. 1. 
plain-speaking (plan'spe'king), n. Plainness 
or bluntness of speecn; candor; frankness. 
Kitget. 
plain-spoken (plan'spo'kn), a. Speaking or 
spoken with plain, unreserved sincerity ; frank. 
The reputation of a plain-npttleen, honest man. 
Itryden, All for Love, Prcf. 
The convention listened civilly to Mr. Curtis, who pre 
sented a very plain-spoken address from the New York re- 
formers. . A'. Merriam, S. Bowles, II. 268. 
plainstanes (plan'stan/i, n. pi. Flagstones; 
sidewalks; pavements. [Scotch.] 
I trow no grass grew beneath his feet on the plainstanes 
of London. Hull. The Steam- Boat, p. 2(12. 
plaint i plant ). H. [< MK.phiinte, pleinte, i>lrynl, 
< OF. pleiii If, F. plitinte = Pr. planch = Sp. llan- 
to, OSp. pronto = Pg. pronto = It. pianlo, < 
ML. plancta, t., plaint, L. planctux, a beating 
of the In-cast in lamentation, beating, lamenta- 
tion, < pin nip n ', beat the breast, lament: sec 
plain'*.] 1. Lamentation; complaint; audible 
expression of sorrow; a sad or serious song. 
Oreet was the pile for to here hem pleyne, 
Thurgh whlchi- plryulet gan her wo encrease. 
Ckauter, Man of Law's Tale, 1. 970. 
Thy accent will excell 
In Ti.igi.-k plaints and passionate mischance. 
Spenser. Colin Clout, I. 427. 
Nor Tears can more. 
Nor l-l.n:.iM revoke the Will of Jore. 
Prior, Turtle and Sparrow. 
2f. Representation made of injury or wrong 
(idiie; complaint. 
There are . . . three ]unt grounds of war with spurn : 
one plaint, two upon defence. llaenn. War with Spain. 
3. In /ir: () A statement of grievance made 
to a court for the purpose of asking redress. 
(') The first process in an inferior court, in tin- 
DaVtore of original process. [Rare.] 
plain-table, . s.-,- ptoM-Jttafe. 
4526 
plaintfuKplant'ful), . [< plaint + -//.] Oom- 
lilaiiiiti";: expressing sorrow with an audible 
voice; also, containing a plaint. 
Hark, plaiiil/til ghosts, Infernal furies, hark 
Unto my woes the hateful heavens do send. 
Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, III. 
plaintiff, n. and n. An obsolete form of plain- 
tiff. /iliiiiiin-i . 
plaintiff (plan'tif), n. and a. [Formerly also 
piaintif, plaintiff ; < ME. pluinlif, playnlyf, < 
OF. piaintif, complaining ; as a noun, one who 
complains, a plaintiff: see pUiin live.'] I. . In 
laic, the person who begins a suit before a tri- 
bunal for the recovery of a claim: opposed to 
defendant. 
And 'tis well that yon 
Begin, else I had been the I'tainlif now. 
./ Beaumont, Psyche, iv. 20. 
Calling of the plaintiff. KeeatUiny. -Nominal plain- 
tiff, one who appears by name as plaintiff upon the record, 
but has no interest In the action. Also nominal party. 
H.t a. Complaining. 
His younger Son on the polluted Ground, 
First Fruit of Death, lies I'laiiUifot a wound 
liiven by a Brother's Hand. Prior, Solomon, iii. 
plaintive (plan'tiv), . [< F. piaintif, lament- 
ing; < plaiiite, lament: see plaint. Cf. plain- 
tiff.] If. Lamenting; complaining; giving ut- 
terance to SOITOW or grief; repining. 
To soothe the sorrows of her plaintive son. 
Dryden, Iliad, I. 480. 
2. Expressive of sorrow or melancholy ; mourn- 
ful; sad: said of things : as, a plain tire sound ; 
a plaintirc air; a plaintire song. 
Whose plainliiv strain each love sick miss admires, 
And o'er harmonious fustian half expires. 
Byron, Eng. Bards and Scotch Reviewers. 
Syn. I 'In i ni if. i.Hii riili'ii*, wilful, rueful. 1'lnlniiiv 
and querulous agree in expressing weakness. He who in 
inierulowi is ready to find fault over trivial matters, and 
in a weak, captious, tired way ; there la a tone recognized 
as qiteruloux. l'luin!i> Is rarely said of persons ; a plain. 
five tone or utterance conveys a sulnlued regret or lamen- 
tation : as, the plaintive note of the mourning dove. See 
jMtatent. 
The plaintive wave, as it broke on the shore, 
Seemed sighing for rest for evermore. 
Jones Very, Poems, p. 120. 
Quickent-d the fire and laid the lioard 
Mid the crone's angry, quentlotts word 
( if surly wonder. 
William Morris. Earthly Paradise, III. 9. 
plaintively (plan'tiv-li), adv. In a plaintive 
manner; mournfully; sadly. 
plaintiveness (plan'tiv-nes), n. The quality 
of being plaintive; moiiiiifulness. 
plaintless (plant/leg), a. [< plaint + -/>..] 
Without complaint; unrepining. 
By woe, the soul to daring action .wells ; 
By woe, in plaintlenn patience It excels. 
Savage, The Wanderer, II. 
plain-wanderer (plan'wou'der-er), H. A bush- 
quail of the genus Ptdiimumut : as, the collared 
nlttin-vanderrr, I', turquatim. [A book-name.] 
plain-wave (pliin'wav), n. A British geomet- 
rid moth, Aritittlia inornata. 
plain-work (plan'werk), n. Plain needlework, 
as distinguished from embroidery. 
plaisancet, . [< F. plaixanee, pleasance : see 
pleasance.} An obsolete form of pleaxanre. 
Ptaiiance, and Joy, and a lively spirit, and a pleasant 
conversation, and the Innocent caresses of a charitable 
humanity, Is not forbidden. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 18S5X I. 742. 
plaiset, . Hee plaice. 
plaister, . and r. An obsolete or archaic form 
of planter. 
plait (plat), n. [Also plat, pleat, and (obs.) 
plitjht; early mod. E. also plnyt, pteyt/ht, etc.; < 
ME. plailf, playte, < OF. pleit,plet, ploit, F. pti, 
a fold, ply, = FT. plea, plee = 8p. plieaue = Pg. 
prrtjn = It. pirga, a fold, < ML. as if "plictnui, 
neut., "plicta, fem., for plicatuni, plieata, neut. 
and fem. of L. plicatux, pp. of plirare, fold : see 
)>/y.] 1. A flattened gather or fold ; an over- 
lapping fold made by doubling cloth or some 
similar fabric in narrow strips upon itself. 
Tln-y vse all one maner of appareyle : as longc coates 
wlthowte ptrygUet and with nan-owe aleaues, after the 
maner of the Iliingaryans. 
A'. Kill , i, tr. of Slglsmiindiis Uherns (First Books on 
[America, ed. Arber, p. 820)i 
Tliat attire, 
E'en as It alts on thee. not a plait alti-i <l 
Middleton, A Mad World, Iv. 4. 
It It very difficult to traceout the figure of a vest through 
all the itiiit* anil folding of the drapery. Addition. 
2. A braid, as of hair, straw, etc. 
But In and cam the Queen hersel, 
Wl' gowd liait on her hair. 
Jfary Hamilton (Child i Bulbils, III. :K,\ 
plan 
A high crown of shining brown plait*, with curl, that 
floated backward. Oeorye Ktiot, Felix Holt, v. 
3. Hope-yarn strands braided into sennit. 
Brazilian,' Leghorn, etc., plait. See the qualifying 
words. 
plait (plat), v. [Also plot, plful, and (obs.) 
pliijht; < ME. plaiten, playtyn, plaitin, pirten, < 
plnyte, plaite, etc. : see plait, n.] I. Iran*. 1. 
To fold; double in narrow strips: as, to plait a 
gown or a sleeve. See;/rtifiwf/and boB-ptfiUltq, 
2. To braid; interweave the locks or strands 
of: as, to plait the hair. 
She ban plaited her yellow locks 
A little abune her bree. 
11,,,,1/f Klin (Child's Ballads, I. 2M). 
111 weave her (larlands, and 111 pleat her Hair. 
Prior, Henry and Emma. 
3. To mat; felt. E. H. Knii/hl. 
H.t iutrann. To twist; twine. 
The worm lent out, the worm lept down, 
She plaited round the stone ; 
And ay as the ship came to the land 
She banged it off again. 
Tin' Laidley Worm of Sptnaleftmt-heugh (Child's Ballads, 
(I. 88ft). 
plaited (pla'ted), p. a. 1. Folded; made in or 
with, or marked by, folds or flattened (lutings; 
pleated: as, a shirt with & plat ted bosom. 
The Romalnes, of any other people most seuere cen- 
surers of decencie, thought no vpper garment so comely 
for a ciuill man as a long playted gowne. 
Pultsnham, Arte of Eng. Poerie, p. 237. 
2. In />/. and zoiil., folded lengthwise like the 
plaits of a closed fan; fluted. 3. Wrinkled; 
contracted; knitted. 
A conflicting of shame and ruth 
Was In his plaited brow. Keats, Endymion, i. 
4. Braided ; interwoven : as, plaitrd hair. 
Though liarks or plaited willows make your hive, 
A narrow inlet to their cells contrive. 
Addison, tr. of Virgil's tieorglcs, iv. 
5f. Tangled; intricate. 
Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides. 
Shale., Lear, I. 1. 283. 
Plaited lace. See lace.- Plaited stitch, one of the 
stitches of worsted work or Berlin wool work, in which the 
threads span a considerable distance at each Insertion, 
the result being a sort of herring-bone pattern. Plaited 
string work, a kind of fancy work made with small cord. 
or ordinary string, narrow ribbon, or tape, which Is plaited 
or twisted Into simple patterns. Plaited worms, the 
A xpidogastfridae. 
plaiter (pla'ter), . [< plait + -cr*.] One who 
or that which plaits or braids; especially, an 
implement for producing plaits of regular size, 
as in cloth. 
plaiting (pla'ting), n. [Verbal n. of plait, r.] 
1. The act or process of making plaits or folds, 
or of interweaving or braiding two or more 
strands, fibers, etc. 
I'liiiiiiui appears to have been the process first practised ; 
for short fillers, such as gross, rushes, drc., can be used 
without the aid of spinning by thf. means. 
A. Barlow, Weaving, p. 4O4. 
2. Plaits, folds, or braids taken collectively. 
3. In liat-making, the felting or interweaving 
of the hair to form the body by means of pres- 
sure, motion, moisture, and heat. Also called 
hardening. 
plaiting-inachine (pla'ting-ma-shen'), . A 
machine for forming plaits in cloth ; a plaiter. 
In simple forms It Is merely a board with a series of nee- 
dles hinged to one side, the fabric being folded in plaiU 
under the needles in any manner desired, and held In po- 
sition by the needles till the form has been impressed by 
a hot Iron. Other machines, whether serving as attach* 
ments to sewing-machines or working liuli-pcndently, 
operate by means of reciprocating blades, which tack or 
push the fabric Into plalU, these plaits being flxed by 
means of hot irons or heated cylinders. 
plait-work (plat'werk), . Decoration by 
means of interlacing or interwoven ban. Is. 
seeming as if plaited together. Compare strap- 
plakat (plak'at), n. [Siamese name.] The 
fighting-fish. 
plan (plan), n. [= D. G. Dan. Sw. plan, < F. 
plan, a ground-plot of a building (= Sp. plan, 
liliniii = Pg. pltnio = It. piano), < jiliiH, flat, a 
later form than thevernaculai-/)/iH. < L. planua, 
flat, plane: see /<//', plane' 1 .'} 1. The repre- 
sentation of iinythiMi; ill-awn on a plane, as a 
map or chart; specifically, the i-e|ii-csciitatioii 
of a building or oilier structure in horizontal 
section, as it stands or is intended to Muml <>M 
the ground, show -ing its e\ lent, iind tin- ill vision 
and distribution of its areu into apartments, 
rooms, passages, etc ..... its method of construc- 
tion and the relation of its parts. The raiseil j<lnii 
of a building is the sanii- ns an rleralinn. A gramrtriciil lian 
Is one drawn to scale, or one In wliii-h the solid anil vacant 
parts are rrnrraunti -d in tin ii miliirul |>ro|Hirtions. A 
penpeetine plait l one the lines of which follow the rules 
