12 results for: please

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

please

Audio Help [pleez] Pronunciation Key adverb, verb, pleased, pleas·ing.

–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)

2.	to act to the pleasure or satisfaction of: to please the public.

3.	to be the pleasure or will of: May it please your Majesty.

–verb (used without object)

4.	to like, wish, or feel inclined: Go where you please.

5.	to give pleasure or satisfaction; be agreeable: manners that please.

—Idiom

if you please,

a.	if it be your pleasure; if you like or prefer.

b.	(used as an exclamation expressing astonishment, indignation, etc.): The missing letter was in his pocket, if you please!

[Origin: 1275–1325; (v.) ME plesen, plaisen < MF plaisir ≪ L placére 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 imper. use of intransit. please to be pleased, wish

]

—Related forms

pleas·a·ble, adjective

pleas·ed·ly

Audio Help [plee-zid-lee, pleezd-] Pronunciation Key, adverb

pleas·ed·ness, noun

pleaser, noun

—Synonyms 4. choose, desire, prefer.

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

please Audio Help   (plēz) Pronunciation Key
v.   pleased, pleas·ing, pleas·es

v.   tr.

To give enjoyment, pleasure, or satisfaction to; make glad or contented.
To be the will or desire of: May it please the court to admit this firearm as evidence.

v. intr.

To give satisfaction or pleasure; be agreeable: waiters who try hard to please.
To have the will or desire; wish: Do as you please. Sit down, if you please.

adv.

If it is your desire or pleasure; if you please. Used in polite requests: Please stand back. Pay attention, please.
Yes. Used in polite affirmative replies to offers: May I help you? Please.

[Middle English plesen, from Old French plaisir; see pleasant.]

pleas'er n.

Synonyms: These verbs mean to give pleasure to: was pleased by their success; a gift that would delight any child; praise that gladdens the spirit; progress that gratified all concerned; compliments that tickle their vanity.
Antonym: displease

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
please (v.)

c.1325, "to be agreeable," from O.Fr. plaisir (Fr. plaire) "to please," from L. placere "to be acceptable, be liked, be approved," related to placare "to soothe, quiet," from PIE base *p(e)lag- "to smooth, make even" (cf. Gk. plax, gen. plakos "level surface," plakoeis "flat;" Lett. plakt "to become flat;" O.N. flaga "layer of earth;" Norw. flag "open sea;" O.E. floh "piece of stone, fragment;" O.H.G. fluoh "cliff"). Intransitive sense (e.g. do as you please) first recorded 1500; imperative use (e.g. please do this), first recorded 1622, was probably a shortening of if it please (you) (1388). Verbs for "please" supply the stereotype polite word ("Please come in," short for may it please you to ...) in many languages (Fr., It.), "But more widespread is the use of the first singular of a verb for 'ask, request' " [Buck, who cites Ger. bitte, Pol. prasze, etc.] Sp. favor is short for hace el favor "do the favor." Dan. has in this sense vær saa god, lit. "be so good."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

please
adverb
1.	used in polite request; "please pay attention"
verb
1.	give pleasure to or be pleasing to; "These colors please the senses"; "a pleasing sensation" [ant: displease]
2.	be the will of or have the will (to); "he could do many things if he pleased"
3.	give satisfaction; "The waiters around her aim to please"

American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

please

see as you please.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source - Share This
please1 [pliːz] verb

to do what is wanted by (a person); to give pleasure or satisfaction to
Example: You can't please everyone all the time; It pleases me to read poetry.

Arabic:	من فَضْلَك
Czech:	vyhovět; potěšit
Danish:	behage; glæde
Estonian:	meeldima
French:	plaire (à)
Greek:	ευχαριστώ, ικανοποιώ, δίνω ευχαρίστηση σε
Hungarian:	örömet okoz
Korean:	기쁘게 하다, 만족시키다

Latvian:	patikt; iepriecināt; sagādāt baudu
Lithuanian:	įtikti, patikti
Polish:	zadowalać, sprawiać radość
Portuguese (Brazil):	agradar
Romanian:	a satisface; a-i plăcea
Russian:	угождать; доставлять удовольствие
Slovak:	vyhovieť
Turkish:	memnun etmek

please2 [pliːz] verb

to choose, want, like
Example: He does as he pleases.

Arabic:	يَخْتار، يُحِب، يُريد
Czech:	chtít, zlíbit se
Danish:	ville
Estonian:	heaks arvama
French:	plaire
Greek:	θέλω, μου κάνει κέφι
Hungarian:	tetszik (vkinek)
Korean:	좋아하다

Latvian:	labpatikt
Lithuanian:	norėti, (kam) patikti
Polish:	chcieć
Portuguese (Brazil):	aprazer
Romanian:	a vrea
Russian:	желать, хотеть
Slovak:	chcieť, páčiť sa
Turkish:	istemek

please [pliːz] adverb

a word added to an order or request in order to be polite
Example: Please open the window; Close the door, please; Will you please come with me?

Arabic:	من فَضْلَك
Chinese (Simplified):	请
Chinese (Traditional):	請
Czech:	prosím
Danish:	venligst
Dutch:	alstublieft
Estonian:	palun
Finnish:	ole hyvä
French:	s'il te, *vous plaît
German:	bitte
Greek:	παρακαλώ
Hungarian:	kérem…!
Icelandic:	gera svo vel
Indonesian:	tolong
Italian:	per favore*

Japanese:	どうぞ
Korean:	부디, 제발
Latvian:	lūdzu
Lithuanian:	prašau, prašom, malonėsit
Norwegian:	vær så snill
Polish:	proszę
Portuguese (Brazil):	por favor
Portuguese (Portugal):	por favor
Romanian:	te, *vă rog
Russian:	пожалуйста; будьте добры
Slovak:	prosím
Slovenian:	prosim
Spanish:	por favor
Swedish:	var snäll och …, tack, varsågod och …
Turkish:	lütfen, rica ederim

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

Please

Com*pla"cent\, a. [L. complacens very pleasing, p. pr. of complacere; com- + placere to please: cf. F. complaisant. See Please and cf. Complaisant.] Self-satisfied; contented; kindly; as, a complacent temper; a complacent smile.

They look up with a sort of complacent awe . . . to kings. --Burke.

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

Please

Dis*please"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displeased; p. pr. & vb. n. Displeasing.] [OF. desplaisir, whence F. d['e]plaisir displeasure; pref. des- (L. dis-) + plaisir to please. See Please, and cf. Displeasure.]

1. To make not pleased; to excite a feeling of disapprobation or dislike in; to be disagreeable to; to offend; to vex; -- often followed by with or at. It usually expresses less than to anger, vex, irritate, or provoke.

God was displeased with this thing. --1 Chron. xxi. 7.

Wilt thou be displeased at us forever? --Psalms lxxxv. 5 (Bk. of Com. Prayer).

This virtuous plaster will displease Your tender sides. --J. Fletcher.

Adversity is so wholesome . . . why should we be displeased therewith? --Barrow.

2. To fail to satisfy; to miss of. [Obs.]

I shall displease my ends else. --Beau. & Fl.

Syn: To offend; disgust; vex; annoy; dissatisfy; chafe; anger; provoke; affront.

Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

PLEASE

PLEASE: in Acronym Finder

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