21 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

See also: pleasing, if you please, please yourself, pleased

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.

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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.

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Please

Pla"cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Placated; p. pr. & vb. n. Placating.] [L. placatus, p. p. of placare to placate, akin to placere to please. See Please.] To appease; to pacify; to concilate. "Therefore is he always propitiated and placated." --Cudworth.

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

Please

Pla*cen"tious\, a. [See Please.] Pleasing; amiable. [Obs.] "A placentious person." --Fuller.

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Please

Plac"id\, a. [L. placidus, originally, pleasing, mild, from placere to please: cf. F. placide. See Please.] Pleased; contented; unruffied; undisturbed; serene; peaceful; tranquil; quiet; gentle. "That placid aspect and meek regard." --Milton. "Sleeping . . . the placid sleep of infancy." --Macaulay.

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Please

Plea\, n. [OE. plee, plai, plait, fr. OF. plait, plaid, plet, LL. placitum judgment, decision, assembly, court, fr. L. placitum that which is pleasing, an opinion, sentiment, from placere to please. See Please, and cf. Placit, Plead.]

1. (Law) That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause; in a stricter sense, an allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer; in a still more limited sense, and in modern practice, the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer showing or relying upon one or more things as a cause why the suit should be either dismissed, delayed, or barred. In criminal practice, the plea is the defendant's formal answer to the indictment or information presented against him.

2. (Law) A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas. See under Common.

The Supreme Judicial Court shall have cognizance of pleas real, personal, and mixed. --Laws of Massachusetts.

3. That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification; an excuse; an apology. "Necessity, the tyrant's plea." --Milton.

No plea must serve; 't is cruelty to spare. --Denham.

4. An urgent prayer or entreaty.

Pleas of the crown (Eng. Law), criminal actions.

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Please

Pleas"ance\, n. [F. plaisance. See Please.]

1. Pleasure; merriment; gayety; delight; kindness. [Archaic] --Shak. "Full great pleasance." --Chaucer. "A realm of pleasance." --Tennyson.

2. A secluded part of a garden. [Archaic]

The pleasances of old Elizabethan houses. --Ruskin.

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

Please

Pleas"ant\, a. [F. plaisant. See Please.]

1. Pleasing; grateful to the mind or to the senses; agreeable; as, a pleasant journey; pleasant weather.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! --Ps. cxxxiii. 1.

2. Cheerful; enlivening; gay; sprightly; humorous; sportive; as, pleasant company; a pleasant fellow.

From grave to light, from pleasant to serve. --Dryden.

Syn: Pleasing; gratifying; agreeable; cheerful; good-humored; enlivening; gay; lively; merry; sportive; humorous; jocose; amusing; witty.

Usage: Pleasant, Pleasing, Agreeable. Agreeable is applied to that which agrees with, or is in harmony with, one's tastes, character, etc. Pleasant and pleasing denote a stronger degree of the agreeable. Pleasant refers rather to the state or condition; pleasing, to the act or effect. Where they are applied to the same object, pleasing is more energetic than pleasant; as, she is always pleasant and always pleasing. The distinction, however, is not radical and not rightly observed.

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Please

Please\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pleased; p. pr. & vb. n. Pleasing.] [OE. plesen, OF. plaisir, fr. L. placere, akin to placare to reconcile. Cf. Complacent, Placable, Placid, Plea, Plead, Pleasure.]

1. To give pleasure to; to excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to make glad; to gratify; to content; to satisfy.

I pray to God that it may plesen you. --Chaucer.

What next I bring shall please thee, be assured. --Milton.

2. To have or take pleasure in; hence, to choose; to wish; to desire; to will.

Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he. --Ps. cxxxv. 6.

A man doing as he wills, and doing as he pleases, are the same things in common speech. --J. Edwards.

3. To be the will or pleasure of; to seem good to; -- used impersonally. "It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell." --Col. i. 19.

To-morrow, may it please you. --Shak.

To be pleased in or with, to have complacency in; to take pleasure in.

To be pleased to do a thing, to take pleasure in doing it; to have the will to do it; to think proper to do it. --Dryden.

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Please

Please\, v. i. 1. To afford or impart pleasure; to excite agreeable emotions.

What pleasing scemed, for her now pleases more. --Milton.

For we that live to please, must please to live. --Johnson.

2. To have pleasure; to be willing, as a matter of affording pleasure or showing favor; to vouchsafe; to consent.

Heavenly stranger, please to taste These bounties. --Milton.

That he would please 8give me my liberty. --Swift.

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Please

Pleas"ure\, n. [F. plaisir, originally an infinitive. See Please.]

1. The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish, or happiness produced by the expectation or the enjoyment of something good, delightful, or satisfying; -- opposed to pain, sorrow, etc.

At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. --Ps. xvi. 11.

2. Amusement; sport; diversion; self-indulgence; frivolous or dissipating enjoyment; hence, sensual gratification; -- opposed to labor, service, duty, self-denial, etc. "Not sunk in carnal pleasure." --Milton.

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man. --Prov. xxi. 17.

Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. --2 Tim. iii. 4.

3. What the will dictates or prefers as gratifying or satisfying; hence, will; choice; wish; purpose. "He will do his pleasure on Babylon." --Isa. xlviii. 14.

Use your pleasure; if your love do not presuade you to come, let not my letter. --Shak.

4. That which pleases; a favor; a gratification. --Shak.

Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure --Acts xxv. 9.

At pleasure, by arbitrary will or choice. --Dryden.

To take pleasure in, to have enjoyment in. --Ps. cxlvii. 11.

Note: Pleasure is used adjectively, or in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, pleasure boat, pleasure ground; pleasure house, etc.

Syn: Enjoyment; gratification; satisfaction; comfort; solace; joy; gladness; delight; will; choice; preference; purpose; command; favor; kindness.

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