plain

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   lacking embellishment or ornamentation

   a plain hair style

2. 2
   adj

   free from any effort to soften to disguise

   the plain and unvarnished truth

3. 3
   adj

   not mixed with extraneous elements

   plain water

4. 4
   noun

   extensive tract of level open land

   they emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain

5. 5
   verb

   express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

   My mother complains all day

6. 6
   adj

   Flat, level.

   The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.

7. 7
   adj

   Simple, unaltered.

   He was dressed simply in plain black clothes.

8. 8
   adj

   Obvious.

   In fact, by excommunication or persuasion, by impetuosity of driving or adroitness in leading, this Abbot, it is now becoming plain everywhere, is a man that generally remains master at last.

Etymology

From Middle English pleyn, borrowed from Old French plein, from Latin plēnus (“full, filled, complete”). Ultimately from Proto-Italic *plēnos, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós (“full”). Doublet of plene, plenary, and full.