plaintiff definition | Dictionary.com

plain⋅tiff

[pleyn-tif]

–noun Law.

a person who brings suit in a court (opposed to defendant ).

Origin:
1350–1400; ME plaintif complaining person, n. use of the adj.: plaintive

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

plain·tiff (plān'tĭf) Pronunciation Key
n. Law
The party that institutes a suit in a court.

[Middle English plaintif, from Anglo-Norman pleintif, from Old French plaintif, aggrieved; see plaintive.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
plaintiff

c.1400, from Anglo-Fr. pleintif (1278), noun use of O.Fr. plaintif "complaining," from pleint (see plaint). Identical with plaintive at first; the form that receded into legal usage retained the older -iff spelling.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

plaintiff
noun
a person who brings an action in a court of law [ant: defendant]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
plaintiff

The party that institutes a suit in a court. The person or entity the plaintiff sues is the defendant.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: plain·tiff
Pronunciation: 'plAn-t&f
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French plaintif, from plaintif, adj., grieving, from plaint lamentation, from Latin planctus, from plangere to strike, beat one's breast, lament
: the party who institutes a legal action or claim (as a counterclaim) —see also COMPLAINANT, COMPLAINT, LIBELLANT —compare DEFENDANT, PROSECUTION

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Plaintiff

Plain"tiff\, n. [F. plaintif making complaint, plaintive; in Old French equiv. to plaignant complainant, prosecutor, fr. plaindre. See Plaint, and cf. Plaintive.] (Law) One who commences a personal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an injury to his rights; -- opposed to defendant.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Plaintiff

Plain"tiff\, a. See Plaintive. [Obs.] --Prior.