Pleasant refers rather to the state or condition; pleasing, to the act or effect. Where they are applied
to the same object, pleasing is more energetic than pleasant; as, she is always pleasant and always
pleasing. The distinction, however, is not radical and not rightly observed.
Pleasant
(Pleas"ant), n. A wit; a humorist; a buffoon. [Obs.]
Pleasantly
(Pleas"ant*ly), adv. In a pleasant manner.
Pleasantness
(Pleas"ant*ness), n. The state or quality of being pleasant.
Pleasantry
(Pleas"ant*ry) n.; pl. Pleasantries [F. plaisanterie. See Pleasant.] That which denotes
or promotes pleasure or good humor; cheerfulness; gayety; merriment; especially, an agreeable playfulness
in conversation; a jocose or humorous remark; badinage.
The grave abound in pleasantries, the dull in repartees and points of wit.
Addison.
The keen observation and ironical pleasantry of a finished man of the world.
Macaulay. Pleasant-tongued
(Pleas"ant-tongued`) a. Of pleasing speech.
Please
(Please) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pleased; p. pr. & vb. n. Pleasing.] [OE. plesen, OF. plaisir, fr.
L. placere, akin to placare to reconcile. Cf. Complacent, Placable, Placid, Plea, Plead, Pleasure.]
1. To give pleasure to; to excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to make glad; to gratify; to content; to
satisfy.
I pray to God that it may plesen you.
Chaucer.
What next I bring shall please thee, be assured.
Milton. 2. To have or take pleasure in; hence, to choose; to wish; to desire; to will.
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he.
Ps. cxxxv. 6.
A man doing as he wills, and doing as he pleases, are the same things in common speech.
J. Edwards. 3. To be the will or pleasure of; to seem good to; — used impersonally. "It pleased the Father that in
him should all fullness dwell." Col. i. 19.
To-morrow, may it please you.
Shak. To be pleased in or
with,
to have complacency in; to take pleasure in. — To be pleased to do a
thing, to take pleasure in doing it; to have the will to do it; to think proper to do it. Dryden.
Please
(Please) v. i.
1. To afford or impart pleasure; to excite agreeable emotions.
What pleasing scemed, for her now pleases more.
Milton.
For we that live to please, must please to live.
Johnson.