please

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

[edit] English

Wikipedia-logo.png
Wikipedia has articles on:

Wikipedia

Most common English words: outside « beside « worth « #696: please » quiet » exclaimed » regard

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Etymology 1

Middle English plesen, plaisen from Old French plaisir from Latin placēre (to please, to seem good).[1] Displaced native Middle English quemen, queamen "to please" (from Old English cwēman "to please"), Middle English biluvien "to please, delight" (from Middle English bi-, be- + luvien "to love"), Middle English liken "to like, please" (from Old English līcian "to please, be like"), Middle English lusten, listen "to be pleasing, delight" (from Old English lystan "to please").

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to please

Third person singular
pleases

Simple past
pleased

Past participle
pleased

Present participle
pleasing

to please (third-person singular simple present pleases, present participle pleasing, simple past and past participle pleased)

  1. (transitive) To make happy or satisfy; to give pleasure.
    Her presentation pleased the executives.
  2. (intransitive, ergative) To desire; to will; to be pleased.
    Just do as you please.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Antonyms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

Short for if you please, an intransitive, ergative form taken from if it pleases you.[1][2]

[edit] Alternative forms

  • (for the exaggerated way it is often pronounced) puh-lease

[edit] Adverb

please (not comparable)

Positive
please

Comparative
not comparable

Superlative
none (absolute)

  1. Used to make a polite request.
    • Please, pass the bread.
    • Would you please sign this form?
    • Could you tell me the time, please?
  2. Used as an affirmative to an offer.
    • -May I help you? -Please.
  3. An expression of annoyance or impatience.
    • Oh, please, do we have to hear that again?
[edit] Translations
[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Etymology 3

A calque of German bitte (excuse me).[3]

[edit] Interjection

please

  1. (Cincinnati, OH, US) Said as a request to repeat information; excuse me.[3][4]

[edit] Anagrams

[edit] References

  • Notes:
  1. 1.0 1.1please” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
  2. ^please” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001
  3. 3.0 3.1 CityBeat. September 16, 1999.
  4. ^ CityBeat. September 16, 1999.