GRE Word List

PLAINTIVE

expressive of suffering or woe : melancholy

The meaning of the word plaintive is expressive of suffering or woe : melancholy.

Random words

WordMeaning
obviateto anticipate and prevent (something, such as a situation) or make (an action) unnecessary
executionerone who executes
inamorataa woman with whom one is in love or has intimate relations
smeara viscous or sticky substance
paeana joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph
indicessigns; indications; Ex. indices of a student's potential; CF. index: something that reveals or indicates; sign; Ex. cost-of-living index
preeminenthaving paramount rank, dignity, or importance : outstanding
hegemonypreponderant influence or authority over others : domination
hallucinationa sensory perception (such as a visual image or a sound) that occurs in the absence of an actual external stimulus and usually arises from neurological disturbance (such as that associated with delirium tremens, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, or narcolepsy) or in response to drugs (such as LSD or phencyclidine)
sibyllineany of several prophetesses usually accepted as 10 in number and credited to widely separate parts of the ancient world (such as Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, and Italy)