☞ The earlier deposits of this period are diluvial in character, as if formed in connection with floods attending the melting of the glaciers, while the later deposits are of finer material in more quiet waters, as the alluvium. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A clergyman who is officially attached to the army or navy, to some public institution, or to a family or court, for the purpose of performing divine service. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any person (clergyman or layman) chosen to conduct religious exercises for a society, etc.; as, a chaplain of a Masonic or a temperance lodge. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Bethesda of some knight's chaplainship. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The possession or revenue of a chapel. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a formal accusation; to make a charge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king? Shak.

Syn. -- To repine; grumble; deplore; bewail; grieve; mourn; regret; murmur. [ 1913 Webster ]

They might the grievance inwardly complain. Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

By chaste Lucrece's soul that late complain'd
Her wrongs to us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Eager complainants of the dispute. Collier. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) One who commences a legal process by a complaint. (b) The party suing in equity, answering to the plaintiff at common law. [ 1913 Webster ]

He shall forfeit one moiety to the use of the town, and the other moiety to the use of the complainant. Statutes of Mass. [ 1913 Webster ]

Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I poured out my complaint before him. Ps. cxlii. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Grievous complaints of you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cause or subject of complaint or murmuring. [ 1913 Webster ]

The poverty of the clergy in England hath been the complaint of all who wish well to the church. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An ailment or disease of the body. [ 1913 Webster ]

One in a complaint of his bowels. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) A formal allegation or charge against a party made or presented to the appropriate court or officer, as for a wrong done or a crime committed (in the latter case, generally under oath); an information; accusation; the initial bill in proceedings in equity.

Syn. -- Lamentation; murmuring; sorrow; grief; disease; illness; disorder; malady; ailment. [ 1913 Webster ]

The horse-chestnut is . . . ready to explain its leaf. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity; to expound; to unfold and illustrate the meaning of; as, to explain a chapter of the Bible. [ 1913 Webster ]

Commentators to explain the difficult passages to you. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

To explain away, to get rid of by explanation. “Those explain the meaning quite away.” Pope.

Syn. -- To expound; interpret; elucidate; clear up. [ 1913 Webster ]

We with piteous heart unto you pleyne. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. Isa. xl. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Open; clear; unencumbered; equal; fair. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our troops beat an army in plain fight. Felton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not intricate or difficult; evident; manifest; obvious; clear; unmistakable. “'T is a plain case.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (a) Void of extraneous beauty or ornament; without conspicious embellishment; not rich; simple. (b) Not highly cultivated; unsophisticated; free from show or pretension; simple; natural; homely; common. “Plain yet pious Christians.” Hammond. “The plain people.” A. Lincoln. (c) Free from affectation or disguise; candid; sincere; artless; honest; frank. “An honest mind, and plain.” Shak. (d) Not luxurious; not highly seasoned; simple; as, plain food. (e) Without beauty; not handsome; homely; as, a plain woman. (f) Not variegated, dyed, or figured; as, plain muslin. (g) Not much varied by modulations; as, a plain tune. [ 1913 Webster ]

Plain battle, open battle; pitched battle. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. --
Plain chant (Mus.) Same as Plain song, below. --
Plain chart (Naut.), a chart laid down on Mercator's projection. --
Plain dealer. (a) One who practices plain dealing. (b) A simpleton. [ Obs. ] Shak. --
Plain dealing. See under Dealing. --
Plain molding (Join.), molding of which the surfaces are plain figures. --
Plain sewing, sewing of seams by simple and common stitches, in distinct from fancy work, embroidery, etc.; -- distinguished also from designing and fitting garments. --
Plain song. (a) The Gregorian chant, or canto fermo; the prescribed melody of the Roman Catholic service, sung in unison, in tones of equal length, and rarely extending beyond the compass of an octave. (b) A simple melody. --
Plain speaking, plainness or bluntness of speech. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Level; flat; smooth; open; artless; unaffected; undisguised; frank; sincere; honest; candid; ingenuous; unembellished; downright; blunt; clear; simple; distinct; manifest; obvious; apparent. See Manifest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Descending fro the mountain into playn. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Him the Ammonite
Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A field of battle. [ Obs. ] Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lead forth my soldiers to the plain. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

We would rake Europe rather, plain the East. Wither. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make plain or manifest; to explain. [ 1913 Webster ]

What's dumb in show, I'll plain in speech. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An accusation or protest on account of an injury. [ 1913 Webster ]

There are three just grounds of war with Spain: one of plaint, two upon defense. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Expressive of sorrow or melancholy; mournful; sad. “The most plaintive ditty.” Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Plain"tive*ly, adv. -- Plain"tive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]