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Plaintive vs Dolorous - What's the difference?

plaintive | dolorous | Synonyms |

Plaintive is a synonym of dolorous.


As adjectives the difference between plaintive and dolorous

is that plaintive is sounding sorrowful, mournful or melancholic while dolorous is solemnly or ponderously sad.

plaintive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Sounding sorrowful, mournful or melancholic.
  • dolorous

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Solemnly or ponderously sad.
  • * 1596 , , The Faerie Queene , Book 5, Canto 4:
  • Through dolorous despaire, which she conceyved,
    Into the Sea her selfe did headlong throw,
    Thinking to have her griefe by death bereaved.
  • * 1645 , , "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity", stanza 14:
  • . . . Hell itself will pass away,
    And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day.
  • * 1859 , , A Tale of Two Cities , ch. 30:
  • From this prison here of horror, whence I every hour tend nearer and nearer to destruction, I send you . . . the assurance of my dolorous and unhappy service.
  • * '>citation
  • * 2001 June 24, Stefan Kanfer, " Author, Teacher, Witness," Time :
  • As World War II came to a close, the gaunt and dolorous child was liberated at yet another death camp, Buchenwald.