please









please


please [pleez] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for please on Thesaurus.com adverb

  1. (used as a polite addition to requests, commands, etc.) if you would be so obliging; kindly: Please come here. Will you please turn the radio off?

verb (used with object), pleased, pleas·ing.

  1. to act to the pleasure or satisfaction of: to please the public.
  2. to be the pleasure or will of: May it please your Majesty.

verb (used without object), pleased, pleas·ing.

  1. to like, wish, or feel inclined: Go where you please.
  2. to give pleasure or satisfaction; be agreeable: manners that please.

Idioms

  1. if you please,
    1. if it be your pleasure; if you like or prefer.
    2. (used as an exclamation expressing astonishment, indignation, etc.): The missing letter was in his pocket, if you please!

Origin of please 1275–1325; (v.) Middle English plesen, plaisen Middle French plaisir ≪ Latin placēre to please, seem good (see placid); the use of please with requests, etc., is presumably a reduction of the clause (it) please you may it please you, later reinforced by imperative use of intransitive please to be pleased, wishRelated formspleas·a·ble, adjectivepleas·ed·ly [plee-zid-lee, pleezd-] /ˈpli zɪd li, ˈplizd-/, adverbpleas·ed·ness, nounpleas·er, nounhalf-pleased, adjectiveout·please, verb (used with object), out·pleased, out·pleas·ing.o·ver·please, verb, o·ver·pleased, o·ver·pleas·ing.self-pleased, adjectiveself-pleas·er, nounun·pleas·a·ble, adjectiveun·pleased, adjectivewell-pleased, adjectiveCan be confusedpleas pleaseSynonyms for please See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com 4. choose, desire, prefer. Related Words for well-pleased noble, great, honored, illustrious, satisfied, appreciative, glad, august, content, contented, dignified, eminent, fiery, fine, glorious, gorgeous, grand, gratifying, imposing, impressive Examples from the Web for well-pleased Historical Examples of well-pleased

  • “Ay, ay,” said Tibble, regarding him with a well-pleased face.

    The Armourer’s Prentices

    Charlotte M. Yonge

  • Hungry Englishmen are not well-pleased to be baulked of their provisions.

    Ben Burton

    W. H. G. Kingston

  • Their mother, however, was not quite so well-pleased with the result of the expedition.

    Bob Strong’s Holidays

    John Conroy Hutcheson

  • Brodrick watched, well-pleased, the silent traffic of their tendernesses.

    The Creators

    May Sinclair

  • Richelieu waved his hand, but with a well-pleased look, and the youth retired.

    Lord Montagu’s Page

    G. P. R. James

  • British Dictionary definitions for well-pleased well-pleased adjective (well pleased when postpositive)

    1. very happy or satisfiedwell pleased with the outcome of the meeting

    please verb

    1. to give satisfaction, pleasure, or contentment to (a person); make or cause (a person) to be glad
    2. to be the will of or have the will (to)if it pleases you; the court pleases
    3. if you please if you will or wish, sometimes used in ironic exclamation
    4. pleased with happy because of
    5. please oneself to do as one likes

    adverb

    1. (sentence modifier) used in making polite requests and in pleading, asking for a favour, etcplease don’t tell the police where I am
    2. yes please a polite formula for accepting an offer, invitation, etc

    Derived Formspleasable, adjectivepleased, adjectivepleasedly (ˈpliːzɪdlɪ), adverbpleaser, nounWord Origin for please C14 plese, from Old French plaisir, from Latin placēre to please, satisfy Word Origin and History for well-pleased please v.

    early 14c., “to be agreeable,” from Old French plaisir “to please, give pleasure to, satisfy” (11c., Modern French plaire, the form of which is perhaps due to analogy of faire), from Latin placere “to be acceptable, be liked, be approved,” related to placare “to soothe, quiet” (source of Spanish placer, Italian piacere), possibly from PIE *plak-e- “to be calm,” via notion of still water, etc., from root *plak- (1) “to be flat” (see placenta).

    Meaning “to delight” in English is from late 14c. Inverted use for “to be pleased” is from c.1500, first in Scottish, and paralleling the evolution of synonymous like (v.). Intransitive sense (e.g. do as you please) first recorded c.1500; imperative use (e.g. please do this), first recorded 1620s, was probably a shortening of if it please (you) (late 14c.). Related: Pleased; pleasing; pleasingly.

    Verbs for “please” supply the stereotype polite word (e.g. “Please come in,” short for may it please you to …) in many languages (French, Italian), “But more widespread is the use of the first singular of a verb for ‘ask, request’ ” [Buck, who cites German bitte, Polish proszę, etc.]. Spanish favor is short for hace el favor “do the favor.” Danish has in this sense vær saa god, literally “be so good.”

    Idioms and Phrases with well-pleased please

    see as you please.

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