pleasure English · revision 4426

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1368|origins=la placere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpleʒ.ə/, US /ˈpleʒ.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|plesir]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|plesir|t=enjoyment, delight, desire, will]], also plaisir (12th century),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a noun use of the infinitive plaisir “to please”,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|placēre|t=to please, give pleasure, be approved]].^(Etymonline) The ending was altered in Middle English under the influence of nouns in -ure such as [[measure]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[please]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ How one is pleased, one's will or desire, as in ''at one's pleasure'': perhaps about 1368 in the OED;^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline, also as a source of enjoyment.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The feeling of enjoyment or gratification is from 1390 in the OED^(OED 1989) and the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Sensual gratification is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline) and pleasure as the chief object of life, in an unfavourable sense, from 1526.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The ''pleasure principle'' of psychology is from 1894.^(OED 1989) Spellings in -ure, such as plaisur and plesur, appear about 1440.^(OED 1989) The verb meant “to take pleasure in” in the 1530s,^(Etymonline) “to give pleasure to” from the 1550s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) with a sexual sense by the 1610s.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * ?c. 1368 – one's will or desire.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1390 – the feeling of enjoyment.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 15th century – sensual gratification.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1440 – forms in -ure.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1526 – pleasure as an end in itself.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1550s – verb, to give pleasure to.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1894 – ''pleasure principle''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A feeling of [[enjoyment]], satisfaction or delight.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A source of enjoyment: ''it was a pleasure to meet you''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Amusement or worldly enjoyment, as opposed to work: ''business or pleasure''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[sensual|alt=Sensual]] gratification.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(formal)'' One's wish or preference: ''at the king's pleasure''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give pleasure, especially sexual pleasure, to.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pleasureless]]

+ * [[pleasureful]]

+ * [[pleasurelessly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[displeasure]]

+ * [[please]]

+ * [[pleasant]]

+ * [[measure]]

+ * [[placid]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}