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Webster 1913 Edition

Plaint

Plaint

,
Noun.
[OE.
plainte
,
pleynte
, F.
plainte
, fr. L.
plangere
,
planctum
(
plancta
, fem. p. p.), to beat, beat the breast, lament. Cf.
Complain
,
Plague
,
Plangent
.]
1.
Audible expression of sorrow; lamentation; complaint; hence, a mournful song; a lament.
Chaucer.
“The Psalmist’s mournful plaint.”
Wordsworth.
2.
An accusation or protest on account of an injury.
There are three just grounds of war with Spain: one of
plaint
, two upon defense.
Bacon.
3.
(Law)
A private memorial tendered to a court, in which a person sets forth his cause of action; the exhibiting of an action in writing.
Blackstone.

Webster 1828 Edition

Plaint

PLAINT

,
Noun.
[L. plango, to strike, to beat, to lament, whence complaint; Gr. to strike, from the root disused, whence, a stroke; L. plaga, Eng. plague.]
1.
Lamentation; complaint; audible expression of sorrow.
From inward grief
His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd.
2.
Complaint; representation made of injury or wrong done.
There are three just grounds of war with Spain; one of plaints; two upon defense.
3.
In law, a private memorial tendered to a court, in which the person sets forth his cause of action.
4.
In law, a complaint; a formal accusation exhibited by a private person against an offender for a breach of law or a public offense.

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