plain

Meaning

Adj

1. (archaic, regional) Flat, level.
2. Simple, unaltered.
3. Simple, unaltered.
4. Simple, unaltered.
5. Simple, unaltered.
6. Simple, unaltered.
7. Obvious.
8. Obvious.
9. Open.
10. Open.
11. Not unusually beautiful; unattractive.
12. Not a trump.

Adv

1. (colloquial, not-comparable) Simply.
2. (archaic, not-comparable) Plainly; distinctly.

Noun

1. An expanse of land with relatively low relief and few trees, especially a grassy expanse.
2. A broad, flat expanse in general, as of water.
3. (archaic) Synonym of field in reference to a battlefield.
4. (alt-of, alternative, obsolete) Alternative spelling of plane: a flat geometric field.

Verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To level; to raze; to make plain or even on the surface.
2. (obsolete, transitive) To make plain or manifest; to explain.

Noun

A lamentation.

Verb

1. (obsolete, reflexive) To complain.
2. (ambitransitive, archaic, poetic) To lament, bewail.

Synonyms

simple

clear

distinct

flat

ordinary

evident

field

obvious

homely

manifest

level

apparent

even

prairie

ugly

level land

unadorned

common

plane

smooth

bare

level ground

pure

explicit

easy

frank

unattractive

straightforward

⬆️

sheer

light

valley

humble

unpretentious

complain

unvarnished

steppe

champaign

lowly

pampas

flat land

open field

flatland

downright

meadow

lucid

lowland

mere

conspicuous

plateau

outspoken

Translations

plaine

Ebene

pianura

llanura

piano

simple

vlakte

sencillo

llano

einfach

clair

planície

schlicht

klar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/pleɪn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: pleyn

Cognate with Anglo-Norman: -

In summary

From Middle English pleyn, borrowed from Anglo-Norman pleyn, playn, Middle French plain, plein, and Old French plain, from Latin plānus (“flat, even, level, plain”). Doublet of llano, piano, and plane.