plaire French · revision 15873

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1050, Vie de saint Alexis|origins=la placeō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /plɛʁ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''plaire'''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|fro|plaire]], a remaking of the Old French infinitive [[m|fro|plaisir]], which regularly continues [[la|placeō|alt=placēre|t=to please]];^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)^(FEW|9, 1a) “plaisir”, used as an infinitive until the 13th century, became the noun [[plaisir]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005) The new infinitive was formed on the present “il plaît”, after verbs such as [[faire]] beside “il fait” and [[traire]] beside “il trait”,^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992) or under the attraction of the future “je plairai”.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Wiktionary) Another explanation, given by Littré and the TLFi, starts from a popular Latin form with a short “e”, “placĕre”, beside “placēre”.^(TLFi)^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ The origin of the Latin verb, like that of [[m|la|plācō|t=to appease]], is obscure;^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) a link with [[m|la|plānus|t=flat]] has been suggested but is not established.^(DHLF 1992) Cognate with [[it|piacere]], [[ca|plaure]], [[es|placer]], [[pt|prazer]] and [[ro|plăcea]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The first known use is the old wish formula ''si Deu ploüst'' “if it had pleased God”, in the ''Vie de saint Alexis'' (about 1050).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The formula was remade as ''pleüst a Dieu que'' (about 1165) and ''plaise à Dieu que'' (1636).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) From the early 12th century the verb is used of a thing that suits someone, and about 1160 of a person who charms or attracts.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The polite formula ''s'il vous plaît'' “please” dates from 1155–1174,^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) while ''plaît-il ?'' “pardon?” (''plest-il ?'', about 1480) has gone out of fashion.^(DHLF 1992) In Belgian French ''s'il vous plaît ?'' is used to ask someone to repeat.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ The reflexive ''se plaire'' meant “to be pleased with oneself” (Jean de Meun) and then “to take pleasure in” (1560);^(TLFi) of plants and animals it means “to thrive (somewhere)” (1690).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The present participle ''plaisant'' (about 1170) gave the family of [[plaisanter]].^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1050 – ''Si Deu ploüst'' in the ''Vie de saint Alexis''.^(TLFi)

+ * Early 12th century – Of things that please.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1160 – Of a charming person.^(TLFi)

+ * 1155–1174 – ''S'il vus plaist'' in Wace.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1480 – ''Plest-il ?''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1560 – ''Se plaire à'' “to delight in”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1690 – Of plants thriving.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''Plaire à'': to [[m|en|please]], be liked by; often rendered in English by “to like” with subject and object reversed: ''ce livre me plaît''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # To attract, [[m|en|charm]] (sexually or romantically).^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # ''(impersonal)'' ''Il me plaît de'': it pleases me to, ''s'il vous plaît'': please.^(Littré 1873)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''Plaise à Dieu que'', ''plût à Dieu que'': would to God that.^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi)

+ # ''(reflexive)'' To enjoy oneself, like it (somewhere); ''se plaire à'': to delight in; of a plant, to thrive.^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[complaire]]

+ * [[déplaire]]

+ * [[plaisance]]

+ * [[plaisir]]

+ * [[plaisanter]]

+ * [[plaisanterie]]

+ * [[plaisantin]]

+ * [[plaisant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[placide]]

+ * [[placet]]

+ * [[la|placeō]]

+ * [[en|please]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}