pleasant English · revision 6434

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1375|origins=la placeo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈplɛz.ənt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English plesaunt, [[bor|fro|plaisant|t=pleasing, agreeable]], the present participle of [[m|fro|plaisir|t=to please]] (see [[please]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|placeo|alt=placēre|t=to be acceptable, be liked]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Pleasing, agreeable: 1375 in the OED, about 1378, in ''Piers Plowman'', in Barnhart;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline, also pleasing to God.^(Etymonline) Plesent is a surname from 1320.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of persons, charming or gracious, is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) 1560 in the OED.^(OED 1989) Humorous or merry is from 1530,^(OED 1989) amusing or ridiculous from 1583,^(OED 1989) and tipsy from 1596, senses now obsolete.^(OED 1989) [[pleasantry|alt=Pleasantry]], fun or joking, is from 1655, and a polite remark from 1701.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1375 – pleasing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1530 – merry (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560 – of agreeable manners.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1655 – pleasantry.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Giving pleasure; [[enjoyable]] or agreeable: ''a pleasant evening''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Friendly and likeable in manner.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of weather, fine and mild.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pleasantly]]

+ * [[pleasantness]]

+ * [[pleasantry]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[please]]

+ * [[pleasure]]

+ * [[unpleasant]]

+ * [[placid]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}