Found 1 items, similar to Plain battle.
English → English (gcide)
Definition: Plain battle
Plain
\Plain\, a. [Compar.
Plainer; superl.
Plainest.] [F.,
level, flat, fr. L. planus, perhaps akin to E. floor. Cf.
Llano,
Piano,
Plan,
Plane level, a level surface.]
1. Without elevations or depressions; flat; level; smooth;
even. See
Plane.
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The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough
places plain. --Isa. xl. 4.
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2. Open; clear; unencumbered; equal; fair.
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Our troops beat an army in plain fight. --Felton.
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3. Not intricate or difficult; evident; manifest; obvious;
clear; unmistakable.
“'T is a plain case.” --Shak.
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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.
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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.
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Syn: Level; flat; smooth; open; artless; unaffected;
undisguised; frank; sincere; honest; candid; ingenuous;
unembellished; downright; blunt; clear; simple;
distinct; manifest; obvious; apparent. See
Manifest.
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