pli:z v. 1 tr. (also absol.) be
agreeable to;
make glad;
give pleasure to (the
gift will please
them;
anxious to please). 2 tr. (in passive) a (foll. by to + infin.) be glad or
willing to (am pleased to help). b (often foll. by
about,
at, with)
derive pleasure or
satisfaction (from). 3 tr. (with it as
subject; usu. foll. by to + infin.) be
the inclination or
wish of (it
did not please them to attend). 4 intr.
think fit;
have the will or
desire (take as
many as
you please). 5 tr. (short
for may it please you) used in
polite requests (come
in, please). øif you please if you are willing,
esp.
iron. to
indicate unreasonableness (then, if you please, we
had to pay). pleased as Punch see
PUNCH(4). please
oneself do as
one likes. øøpleased adj. pleasing adj. pleasingly adv. [ME plaise f. OF plaisir f. L placere]