Etymology From Early Modern English pleasur, plesur, alteration (with ending accommodated to -ure) of Middle English plaisir (“pleasure”), from Old French plesir, plaisir (“to please”), infinitive used as a noun, conjugated form of plaisir or plaire, from Latin placeō (“to please, to seem good”), from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂-k- (“wide and flat”). Related to Dutch plezier (“pleasure, fun”). More at please.
1
A state of being pleased or contented; gratification.
He remembered with pleasure his home and family.
I get a lot of pleasure from watching others work hard while I relax.
2 more examples
But the only statistic that will concern West Brom will be the scoreline, and their manager Roy Hodgson will take considerable pleasure from a victory over the club he managed for just 191 days.2012 April 22, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0-1 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:
Maximize all the pleasure / Even with all this weather / Nothing can make it better / Maximize all the pleasure2019, Toro y Moi, “Ordinary Pleasure”, in Outer Peace:
2
A person, thing or action that causes enjoyment.
It was a pleasure to meet you.
Having a good night's sleep is one of life's little pleasures.
3 more examples
Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 25:9:
The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again;[…]. Now she had come to look upon the matter in its true proportions, and her anticipation of a possible chance of teaching him a lesson was a pleasure to behold.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
In order to grant the rich these pleasures, the social contract is reconfigured. The welfare state is dismantled. […]2013 May 17, George Monbiot, “Money just makes the rich suffer”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 23, page 19:
3
Sexual enjoyment.
4
One's preference.
What is your pleasure: coffee or tea?
5
Formal The will or desire of someone or some agency in power.
to hold an office at pleasure: to hold it indefinitely until it is revoked
to be imprisoned at Her Majesty's pleasure: to be imprisoned indefinitely
3 more examples
at Congress's pleasure: whenever or as long as Congress desires
Use your pleasure; if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter.c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
He will do his pleasure on Babylon.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 48:14:
Etymology From Early Modern English pleasur, plesur, alteration (with ending accommodated to -ure) of Middle English plaisir (“pleasure”), from Old French plesir, plaisir (“to please”), infinitive used as a noun, conjugated form of plaisir or plaire, from Latin placeō (“to please, to seem good”), from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂-k- (“wide and flat”). Related to Dutch plezier (“pleasure, fun”). More at please.
1
pleased to meet you, "It's my pleasure"
pleasure
verb
Etymology From Early Modern English pleasur, plesur, alteration (with ending accommodated to -ure) of Middle English plaisir (“pleasure”), from Old French plesir, plaisir (“to please”), infinitive used as a noun, conjugated form of plaisir or plaire, from Latin placeō (“to please, to seem good”), from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂-k- (“wide and flat”). Related to Dutch plezier (“pleasure, fun”). More at please.
1
To give or afford pleasure to.
[H]e / [...] / Had tost his ball and flown his kite, and roll'd / His hoop to pleasure Edith, [...]1864, Alfred Tennyson, “Aylmer’s Field”, in Enoch Arden, &c., London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 55:
2
To give sexual pleasure to.
Johnny pleasured Jackie with his mouth last night.
In the opening scene, Rupert Campbell-Black (played by Alex Hassell), the gravitational center of Cooper’s world, is seen pleasuring a woman in the bathroom of a Concorde jet, thrusting so vigorously that she hardly notices when the plane goes supersonic.2024 November 23, Sophie Gilbert, “The Silliest, Sexiest Show of the Year”, in The Atlantic:
3
Dated To take pleasure; to seek or pursue pleasure.