Middle English Dictionary Entry
plēsing(e ger.
Entry Info
Forms | plēsing(e ger. Also pleasing, pleseinge. |
Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The satisfaction, pleasing, or propitiation of God; to (at) his ~, to min (thin) ~, to his (my, your) satisfaction, according to his (my, your) wishes; his (thin) ~, ~ of him, etc., what he wishes (you wish), what is pleasing to him (you), his (your) will; ~ of sacrifice, propitiatory offering; wel ~, good will, favor; (b) satisfaction, gratification, pleasure; after thin ~, at his ~, to min (hire) ~, to your, etc., satisfaction or pleasure; for (in, to) ~ of, to please (sb. or sth.); his (min, your) ~, what he, etc., wish(es, his will; haven ~ to, to love (sb.); min ~, as epithet: my beloved; lettre of ~, a conciliatory letter; (c) a pleasing action or thing, source of pleasure; an offering, a gift; (d) the action of cajoling (sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.24.50 : Fro þe lord þe word is gon out; we mow not ouȝt out of þe plesyng [WB(2): plesaunce; L placitum] of hym.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.88.18 : In þi weel plesyng [WB(2): good plesaunce; L beneplacito] shal ben enhauncid oure horn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.35.3 : Holsum sacrifise is..to sacrifien plesing of sacrifise vp-on vnriȝtwisnesses.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)5/18 : Ȝef þei knewen how þei myȝten plesen hure God, þei ne wolde not spare..to don þing þat were to his plesynge.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.48.8 : He schal not Ȝyue to God his plesyng [WB(1): wher of he be plesid; L placationem].
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)3 : God send vs thoght to his plesyng.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)7/180 : Do þese werkys..To Goddis worchip and His plesyng.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)191 : Þei moten neuere preie to plesynge of god.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)250/19 : I cry þe mercy, Lord, for þe riche men in þis worlde þat han þi goodys in weldyng; ȝeue hem grace for to spendyn hem to þi plesyng.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)1/12 : Vnto my dygnyte dere sall diewly be dyghte A place full of plente to my plesyng at ply.
- a1450 In patras (Sln 2593)p.219 : God graw[n]t vs grace..Hym to serue at his plesyng.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)29/2 : I wolde ffayn knowe how I xuld do to serue my lord god to his plesyng.
- c1475 Brm.Abraham (Brm)56 : To don thy plesyng on an hyll, Verely yt ys my wyll, Dere Fader, God in trenyte.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)2176 : Aungels..knowe al þing þat is vnto Goddis plesing.
b
- a1425 Nicod.(1) (Add 32578)977 : A lettre þai wrote all of plesynge, And þusgates was it wryten..Pees, frensshippe, & gud gretynge.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)283/9 : Her prechingis ben raþir for plesynge of men..þan for my worschip.
- (1428) Reg.Langley in Sur.Soc.169104 : I have conceyvet your desire touchyng the postulacion of our sustre..to the whilk postulacion I graunte..in plesing of your gracious lordship.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)21.81 : Now, worthi Sire, And it ȝowre plesing wolde be, ȝowre Name that ȝe wolden tellen me.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)3414 : Thow shallt goo On myn erande to the kyng Of Fraunce, and say my plesyng [vr. pleseynge].
- c1450 Surge mea (Lamb 853)25 : Tota pulcra þou art to my plesynge, My moder, princes of paradijs.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)48/8 : Whi loue ye or haue more plesinge to ani man than to youre husbonde?
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)67/34 : She hadde..plucked her browes..to make her selff the fayrer to the plesinge of the worlde.
- (1462) Will York in Sur.Soc.30261 : It is my will yat my sister have..stoles and burds to hir plesyng.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)1107 : In thys ye be reformyde, Soule, my plesynge.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)141/6 : Yf in such maner thow wilte the sporte, Pley, and Solace, hit Suffysyth thre or foure dayes aftyr thy Plesynge.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)165/4 : The Philosofre rode vpon a mule that he hadd fosterid atte his owyn plesynge.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)177/21 : To hym came messangers..and hym Prait, yf hit were his Plesynge..to rescewe a grete Some of golde.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.1.47 : Thei shulden forbede burnt sacrifices, and sacrifices and plesyngis for to be don in the temple of God.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.711 : Wyues..moste take in pacience at nyght Swich maner necessaryes as been plesynges To folk that han ywedded hem with rynges.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.231 : Prestis & personis þat plesing [vrr. pleasyng, plesynges; presentz, penyes] desiriþ..take mede & money for massis þat þei synge.
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxiii : False apostlis..disceyuen þe hertis of innocentis be swet wordis & plesyngis & oþer feyned signes.
d
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)7/28-9 : Ambicyon is..plesyng lordis lowlich to be a vancyd þe heyer, flateryng & plesyng hem þt mowe maken hym gret.