I. ˈplēz verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English plesen, plaisen, from Middle French plaisir, from Latin placēre; akin to Old English flōh flat piece of stone, Old High German fluoh cliff, Old Norse flō layer, Latin placare to reconcile, placate, Greek plak-, plax flat surface, Lithuanian plakanas flat, and perhaps to Old English flōr floor — more at floor
intransitive verb
1. : to afford or give pleasure, delight, or agreeable satisfaction : be agreeable
the chief object of a play should be to please and entertain
2. : to feel the desire or inclination : like , want , wish
the fundamental American right to think as you please and say as you think — Archibald MacLeish
an able man licensed by the times to do pretty much as he pleased — J.H.Hanford
3. archaic : to have the pleasure or kindness
stranger, please to taste these bounties — John Milton
will you please to enter the carriage — Charles Dickens
transitive verb
1. : to give pleasure to : make glad : gratify
pleased them by his hard work, his calm common sense — Beverly Smith
2. : placate , satisfy ; specifically : to satisfy sexually
3. : to be the will or pleasure of — used impersonally
many boys, please God, will make the venture — J.H.Wilson
may it please your Majesty
4. archaic Scotland : to have or take pleasure in : like
5. : to satisfy (oneself) in respect to something : behave in a manner satisfactory to (oneself) : suit
please yourself as to whether you go
pleased himself by administering justice impatiently — R.A.Billington
finding that the sources themselves were far from uniform, I have sometimes pleased myself — McGeorge Bundy
Synonyms:
gratify , delight , rejoice , gladden , exhilarate , tickle , titillate , arride , regale : please indicates bringing happiness ranging from absence of discontent up to elation by something agreeing with one's wishes, tastes, or aspirations
pleased by the suggestion
a guest pleased by the reception given him
pleased by his son's choice of profession
gratify may suggest stronger although perhaps less long-lived satisfaction at or as if at some particular action or occasion
it gratified him to hear these gentlemen admire his fine stock — Willa Cather
the notice … taken of her from the outset had gratified her — Robert Grant †1940
wished to gratify his son by these eulogies — George Meredith
delight applies to pleasing to the point of keenly felt and often vividly expressed intense transporting pleasure
a dinner party satisfying the highest standard of hospitality, namely, that every guest be seated between persons certain to delight him and sure to kindle his affection — Alan Gregg
the emergency ferry established there so delighted the handsome young actor that he spent the whole first day of the ferry service riding back and forth — American Guide Series: Rhode Island
rejoice may suggest a joy marked by enthusiastic or festive happiness
of even deeper happiness springing from the stirring of those faculties through which man rejoices in knowledge — H.O.Taylor
gladden suggests bringing happiness that encourages or alleviates grief, dubiousness, or gloom
the comrades of the dead girl assemble in the temple on certain days to gladden her spirit with songs and dances — Lafcadio Hearn
the springs which are under the earth and which break forth to refresh and gladden the life of flowers and the life of man — Laurence Binyon
exhilarate indicates a raising to a high pitch of joy, happiness, triumph, or euphoria, with all gloom or worry dispelled
realization affects people in one of two ways. It depresses them when they think how puny Man is against the Universe — or it exhilarates them when they consider his courage in attempting to conquer it — A.C.Clarke
likely to brag a bit when exhilarated — S.H.Adams
tickle may suggest a pleasure physical sensation, one of tingling, thrilling, provoking laughs or chuckles or a comparable mental feeling
the idea of himself as a parson tickles him: he looks down at the black sleeve on his arm, and then smiles slyly — G.B.Shaw
so tickled he'd have wagged a tail if he'd had one — F.B.Gipson
titillate indicates pleasing and also interesting or intriguing
titillated with something novel, flamboyant and sensational — C.E.Montague
all this titillates our nerves: we think it exquisite, perfect — Irving Babbit
arride , now little used, may apply to what pleases, amuses, and calls forth laughter
merry jests such as used to arride our ancestors — William Hardman
regale suggests the large-scale entertainment or enjoyment of copious feasting
farmer's wives regale the workers with brandied cakes and scuppernong grape pies — American Guide Series: North Carolina
•
- if you please
II. adverb
1. — used as a function word to express politeness or emphasis in a request
any millionaires … will please skip the next few pages — Richard Joseph
open the door, please
2. — used as a function word to express polite affirmation
would you like a martini? Please