displease

English

Etymology

Middle English displesen, from Anglo-Norman despleisir, desplere, from Old French desplere, from des- + plere.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /dɪsˈpliːz/
• Rhymes: -iːz

Verb

displease (third-person singular simple present displeases, present participle displeasing, simple past and past participle displeased)

1. (transitive) To make not pleased; to cause a feeling of disapprobation or dislike in; to be disagreeable to; to vex slightly.

   The boy's rudeness displeased me.

   I felt displeased with the boy.

   • (Can we date this quote by Bible?), Psalms lxxxv. 5 (Book of Common Prayer)

     Wilt thou be displeased at us forever?

2. (intransitive) To give displeasure or offense.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To fail to satisfy; to miss of.
   • (Can we date this quote by Beaumont and Fletcher?)

     I shall displease my ends else.

Synonyms

• misplease

Antonyms

• please

Related terms

• displeasure

Translations

to fail to please or satisfy

• Maori: whakaahu

See also

• affront
• anger
• annoy
• chafe
• disgust
• dissatisfy
• offend
• provoke
• vex

Further reading

• displease in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• displease in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• displease at OneLook Dictionary Search