Plangently

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Evoking a strong sense of grief through a sharp and mournful sound
2. Producing a deep, resonant sound that expresses sorrow and sadness
3. Emitting a loud, melodious tone that conveys a poignant, mournful feeling

Etymology: "Plangently" is an adverb formed by adding the suffix "-ly" to "plangent," so it describes doing something in the manner of a plangent sound. The suffix itself is the familiar English one that turns adjectives into adverbs, so the interesting part lies in the adjective it rests on. "Plangent" comes from the Latin verb "plangere," meaning to beat the breast or lament, and the sense of mourning is built into the word from the start. Over time it shifted from describing the act of lamenting to describing the sound itself, so a plangent note seems to carry grief within its tone. That is why the adverb is used for sounds such as bells, horns, or birdcalls that ring out with a mournful depth.