plain

I. intransitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French pleindre, plaindre, from Latin plangere to lament — more at plaint Date: 14th century archaic complain II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin planum, from neuter of planus flat, plain — more at floor Date: 14th century 1. a. an extensive area of level or rolling treeless country b. a broad unbroken expanse 2. something free from artifice, ornament, or extraneous matter III. adjective Date: 14th century 1. archaic even, level 2. lacking ornament ; undecorated 3. free of extraneous matter ; pure 4. free of impediments to view ; unobstructed 5. a. (1) evident to the mind or senses ; obvious <

it's perfectly plain that they will resist

> (2) clear <

let me make my meaning plain

> b. marked by outspoken candor ; free from duplicity or subtlety ; blunt <

plain talk

> 6. a. belonging to the masses ; common b. lacking special distinction or affectation ; ordinary 7. characterized by simplicity ; not complicated <

plain home-cooked meals

> 8. lacking beauty or ugliness Synonyms: see common, evident, frank • plainly adverb • plainness noun IV. adverb Date: 14th century in a plain manner ; without obscurity or ambiguity <

saw them clearly and told you plain — American Documentation

> V. adverb Etymology: partly from Middle English plein entire, complete, from Anglo-French, full, from Latin plenus; partly from 4plain — more at full Date: 1535 absolutely 1 <

it plain galled me to pay fancy prices — F. R. Buckley

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