Placating


[pleez] /pliz/

adverb
1.
(used as a polite addition to requests, commands, etc.) if you would be so obliging; kindly:
Please come here. Will you please turn the radio off?
verb (used with object), pleased, pleasing.
2.
to act to the or satisfaction of:
to please the public.
3.
to be the or will of:
May it please your Majesty.
verb (used without object), pleased, pleasing.
4.
to like, wish, or feel inclined:
Go where you please.
5.
to give or satisfaction; be agreeable:
manners that please.
Idioms
6.
if you please,

/pliːz/
verb
1.
to give satisfaction, pleasure, or contentment to (a person); make or cause (a person) to be glad
2.
to be the will of or have the will (to): if it pleases you, the court pleases
3.
if you please, if you will or wish, sometimes used in ironic exclamation
4.
pleased with, happy because of
5.
please oneself, to do as one likes
adverb
6.
(sentence modifier) used in making polite requests and in pleading, asking for a favour, etc: please don’t tell the police where I am
7.
yes please, a polite formula for accepting an offer, invitation, etc
v.

early 14c., “to be agreeable,” from Old French plaisir “to please, give pleasure to, satisfy” (11c., Modern French plaire, the form of which is perhaps due to analogy of faire), from Latin placere “to be acceptable, be liked, be approved,” related to placare “to soothe, quiet” (source of Spanish placer, Italian piacere), possibly from PIE *plak-e- “to be calm,” via notion of still water, etc., from root *plak- (1) “to be flat” (see placenta).

Meaning “to delight” in English is from late 14c. Inverted use for “to be pleased” is from c.1500, first in Scottish, and paralleling the evolution of synonymous like (v.). Intransitive sense (e.g. do as you please) first recorded c.1500; imperative use (e.g. please do this), first recorded 1620s, was probably a shortening of if it please (you) (late 14c.). Related: Pleased; pleasing; pleasingly.

Verbs for “please” supply the stereotype polite word (e.g. “Please come in,” short for may it please you to …) in many languages (French, Italian), “But more widespread is the use of the first singular of a verb for ‘ask, request’ ” [Buck, who cites German bitte, Polish proszę, etc.]. Spanish favor is short for hace el favor “do the favor.” Danish has in this sense vær saa god, literally “be so good.”
see: as you please

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  • Placative

    [pley-key-tiv, -kuh-, plak-ey-tiv, plak-uh-] /ˈpleɪ keɪ tɪv, -kə-, ˈplæk eɪ tɪv, ˈplæk ə-/ adjective 1. .

  • Placation

    [pley-keyt, plak-eyt] /ˈpleɪ keɪt, ˈplæk eɪt/ verb (used with object), placated, placating. 1. to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures: to placate an outraged citizenry. /pləˈkeɪt/ verb 1. (transitive) to pacify or appease n. 1580s, from French placation (16c.), from Latin placationem (nominative placatio) “an appeasing, pacifying, quieting,” noun of action from […]

  • Placatory

    [pley-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, plak-uh-] /ˈpleɪ kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈplæk ə-/ adjective 1. serving, tending, or intended to : a placatory reply. /pləˈkeɪtərɪ; -trɪ/ adjective 1. placating or intended to placate adj. 1630s, from Latin placatorius “pertaining to appeasing,” from placat-, past participle stem of placare “to appease” (see placate).

  • Placcate

    [plak-eyt, -it] /ˈplæk eɪt, -ɪt/ noun, Armor. 1. a piece of plate armor of the 15th to the 18th century protecting the lower part of the torso in front: used especially as a reinforcement over a breastplate. /pləˈkeɪt/ verb 1. (transitive) to pacify or appease v. 1670s, a back-formation from placation or else from Latin […]

  • Placeable

    [pleys] /pleɪs/ noun 1. a particular portion of space, whether of definite or indefinite extent. 2. space in general: time and place. 3. the specific portion of space normally occupied by anything: The vase is in its place. Every item on the shelf had its place. 4. a space, area, or spot, set apart or […]


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