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definitions

please

[pleez]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR please ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

(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.

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

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

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

Idioms

    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, wish
Related 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, adjective
Can be confusedpleas please

Synonyms for please

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR please ON THESAURUS.COM
4. choose, desire, prefer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for please

satisfy, gratify, amuse, tickle, cheer, entertain, charm, wow, wish, like, want, humor, score, suit, content, overjoy, kill, indulge, gladden, titillate

Examples from the Web for please

Contemporary Examples of please

Historical Examples of please

  • If it please you, lady, my master bids me say he desires your presence.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • It is ever thus, when we disobey the gods, to please mortals.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • Tell Aunt Cornelia, please, that I shall be along in just a moment.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • He returned at length with the message, "The lady says will you please step up-stairs."

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • "Call me Mr. Davis, if you please," said Halbert, haughtily.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

British Dictionary definitions for please

please

verb

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

adverb

(sentence modifier) used in making polite requests and in pleading, asking for a favour, etcplease don't tell the police where I am
yes please a polite formula for accepting an offer, invitation, etc
Derived Formspleasable, adjectivepleased, adjectivepleasedly (ˈpliːzɪdlɪ), adverbpleaser, noun

Word Origin for please

C14 plese, from Old French plaisir, from Latin placēre to please, satisfy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for 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."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with please

please

see as you please.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.