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plainness

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
plain  (pln)
adj. plain·er, plain·est
1. Free from obstructions; open; clear: in plain view.
2. Obvious to the mind; evident: make one's intention plain. See Synonyms at apparent.
3. Not elaborate or complicated; simple: plain food.
4. Straightforward; frank or candid: plain talk.
5. Not mixed with other substances; pure: plain water.
6. Common in rank or station; average; ordinary: a plain man.
7. Not pretentious; unaffected.
8. Marked by little or no ornamentation or decoration.
9. Not dyed, twilled, or patterned: a plain fabric.
10. Lacking beauty or distinction: a plain face.
11. Sheer; utter; unqualified: plain stupidity.
12. Archaic Having no visible elevation or depression; flat; level.
n.
1.
a. An extensive, level, usually treeless area of land.
b. A broad level expanse, as a part of the sea floor or a lunar mare.
2. Something free of ornamentation or extraneous matter.
adv. Informal
Clearly; simply: plain stubborn.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin plnus; see pel-2 in Indo-European roots.]

plainly adv.
plainness n.
Synonyms: plain, modest, simple, unostentatious, unpretentious
These adjectives mean not ornate, ostentatious, or showy: a plain hairstyle; a modest cottage; a simple dark suit; an unostentatious office; an unpretentious country church.
Antonym: ornate
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.plainness - the state of being unmixed with other material; "the plainness of vanilla ice cream"
pureness, purity - being undiluted or unmixed with extraneous material
2.plainness - clarity as a consequence of being perspicuous
clarity, clearness, limpidity, lucidity, lucidness, pellucidity - free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression
3.plainness - the appearance of being plain and unpretentious
appearance, visual aspect - outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
chasteness, simpleness, simplicity, restraint - lack of ornamentation; "the room was simply decorated with great restraint"
austereness, severeness, severity - extreme plainness
starkness, bareness - an extreme lack of furnishings or ornamentation; "I was struck by the starkness of my father's room"
4.plainness - an appearance that is not attractive or beautiful; "fine clothes could not conceal the girl's homeliness"
appearance, visual aspect - outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
Translations
plainness [ˈpleɪnnɪs] N
1. (= clarity) → claridad f; (= frankness) → franqueza f; (= simplicity) → sencillez f
2. (= unattractiveness) → falta f de atractivo
plainness [ˈpleɪnnɪs] nsimplicité f
plain speaking nfranc-parler m
She has a reputation for plain speaking → Elle est bien connue pour son franc-parler.
plain-spoken plainspoken [ˌpleɪnˈspəʊkən] adj (= frank) [person] → au franc-parler
plainness
n
(= frankness, straightforwardness)Direktheit f, → Offenheit f
(= simplicity)Einfachheit f
(= lack of beauty)Unansehnlichkeit f
plainness [ˈpleɪnnɪs] n (simplicity) → semplicità; (lack of beauty) → insignificanza
plainness [ˈpleɪnnɪs] n (simplicity) → semplicità; (lack of beauty) → insignificanza


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Her hat was a little, flat, glossy, new sailor, the extreme plainness of which had likewise much disappointed Anne, who had permitted herself secret visions of ribbon and flowers.
There was, however, a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means.
Besides, to say the truth, the manners of our historian will be improved by both these conversations; for in the one he will easily find examples of plainness, honesty, and sincerity; in the other of refinement, elegance, and a liberality of spirit; which last quality I myself have scarce ever seen in men of low birth and education.
 
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