Middle English Dictionary Entry
plē̆sīr(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | plē̆sīr(e n. Also -ē̆re, -ẹ̄̆re, -ier, -ur(e, -or, pleasir(e, -ier, -er, -ur(e, plaiser, -ure, pleisuer, -our & (?error) pleiasur. |
| Etymology | OF plaisir, pleisir, plaisier, plesir n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The satisfaction of God; ben ~ to, to satisfy (God); (b) gratification, pleasure; (c) a service or favor; also, a reward for service [quot.: (c1449)]; (d) will, wish, desire; (e) at his (your, theire) ~, at his, etc., discretion, as or when he, etc., wish(es; at ~ of the maire, at the discretion of the mayor; to his (thin, your) ~, to his (your) satisfaction.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)150/9 : The kyng Ponthus..reigned to the pleser of God.
- (c1453) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35322 : Continuall priere..is the moste singulere mean that we may offre unto the pleasure of all might god.
- (1461) RParl.5.464a : Edward the fourth..in the name of Jhesu, to his pleasure and lovyng..entred into thexercise of the Roiall estate.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4927 : Other almesse deeds..may be most to the pleeser of almighty God.
- (a1474) Stonor1.138 : Your prosperyte..Jhesu preserve to his plesur and your hertes ese.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)104 : Arthur, yef it be pleser to oure lorde Ihesu criste that thow be kynge, go forth and brynge that swerde.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)15/32 : And he woll attende to The and..kepe himself from mysdoing; his merite shal be..more agreable to Thy pleasur.
b
- (1445) in Turner & P.Archit. ()3.78 : There is appoynted by your counsail to make..for the plesir of Your Highnes..a new halle.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)60 : Wil your aduyse Suppose that the kyng heryn pleasier May haue?
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1083/33 : Overmuche ye se [read: sey] for the plesure of me whych pleasith me nothynge.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)72/30 : Swete Iesu Crist wille that this mai be to the pleasir of Cezar.
c
- (c1449) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35277 : Ye shall do a ffull meritory thynge & deserve of our Lord God a full singler thanke and plesur.
- (1460) Paston (EETS)1.93 : Ples yowyr Hyghnes..in consyderacion of þe seruys and plesur..to yow don by William Paston..to graunt..lettrys patentys.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)334/14 : I shame nat to be with hym nor to do hym all the plesure that I can.
- (1472) Paston (EETS)1.578 : I spak wyth my lady, offyryng to my lord and hyr your seryuse, and..ye to do my lord a plesur and hyr a bettyr.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)124 : It is not gode þat he rewarde such as do..to hym seruice, or oþer maner off pleasures, with þe possescions and revenues of his crovne.
- a1500(a1450) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)140 : Ye shal..do us greit pleasir and deserve of us especial thanke.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)95/21 : A monke apostata..taught the this cursidnes..to do pleasure to the heresies Nestoryne.
d
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)5/117 : Y wolle thou knowe how that þe sitt The forto like in what is my plesere.
- a1475(c1450) Shirley SSecr.(Add 5467)263/11 : They shalbe thy trewe subgettes, to all thy gode pleisours and commaundementes.
- c1475 Abbrev.Trip.SSecr.(UC 85)274/4 : I doute me that I haue trespaced ayenst the will and pleasire [Lambeth: grace; L gratie] of God.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)25 : Sore I am troubled many sondry wyse, Nothyng acordyng vnto my plesure, But euyn clene contrary to my desyre.
- a1500(c1370) Chaucer Comp.L.(Benson-Robinson)120 : With right buxom herte hooly I preye, As your moste plesure, so doth by me.
- a1500(a1450) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)140 : Of your good disposicion to our pleasir in this matere, ye will ascerteine us by the bringer of thise.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)197 : Madame, ye shall haue all your plesere [rime: here].
e
- c1425 Now good swet (Htrn 230)4 : Good mestrys, I dew recumend me to yower pety, Bececheyng yow..at yowre pleysuer to thynke vpon me.
- (1439) LRed Bk.Bristol2.171 : Plese it to youre most sadde discrecions forto oversee the seid ordenaunces..Reservyng..plein poaire..to repelle, vndo, make lesse, and encrese the same ordenaunces to youre plesere.
- (1442) RParl.5.44a : Every Shipmen that wol passe under the seid Brigge..may laufully lifte up and close the seid lef att their pleser.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)1060 : I wil he haue al thing to his pleasire.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)169/17 : Ye cannot brynge a hoke to a fyche mouthe but yf þer be mete ther-on to hys plesur.
- (1463) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2.p.69 : Hit be leeffull..to helpe his neighbour..with his seruants and apprentices atte his or thair plaisure.
- (1466) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1322 : Hit is grauntet..that every person..have his accion of trespas..at his plesyre.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)157/18 : What thynge she hath offended, she woll amende hit at your owne plesure.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)4922 : Y it the may yelde To thy pleasur in towne or feelde.
- (1480) Doc.Norfolk in MELDv2017.1/D0838 : The seid margaret shalle iustifie them and seise them and ther goodes and manumyse them at hir pleaser.
- a1500(1396) Indent.Francisc.in RS 4.1 (Vit F.12)524 : The wych aleys shalbe edified above at plesor of the sayd Maire.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)1 : Oure lorde hadde ben in helle and had take oute Adam and Eve and other at his plesier.
2.
(a) A feeling of pleasure, enjoyment, liking; (b) a pleasing quality or thing; a source of pleasure; a loved one; (c) sensual pleasure; sexual satisfaction.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1450 Whane that phebus beemes (Cleo C.4)44 : Now myrth, now sorowe..now plesure, then payne.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)58/1703 : The god of loue..hath the soyle y-flowrid gay Only to shewe his fest to more plesere.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)193/5769 : Yowre sidis streight and armys..fayne y se wolde to my gret pleseris.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)141/5 : This woman..for her playser and disporte, toke upon her to make leuein for brede.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2082 : Ther is no thyng so precious..As an hymble wyff..Thow shalt haue all plesire that ought suffise.
- a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)182/4 : Thei..list nat leve one day of their pleyasur [CQ(1): ease].
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.501 : If sche wolde his compaignie, Sche scholde thanne afore his ye Schewe al the plesir that sche mihte.
- (1443) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23253 : Thei encrece..their laboures and diligence in prayer..all other occupacions and plesieres that be not behovefull, forborin and left.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)18/523 : I lyue and loke for comfort..Of plesere which absence holt vndir kay.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)35/1042 : He may attayne the ioyfulle port In self passage, y mene to his desere, The see of fortune playn to his plesere.
- (c1471) Paston (EETS)1.572 : Wyth your pertyng depertyd my plesyer.
c
- ?a1450 Whane that phebus beemes (Cleo C.4)37 : O brykell worlde..Thow provokest man to folowe sensualyte..Thow byddest hym folowe plesure.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.373 : A duke..entrenge in to that bedde hade his pleasure [Trev.: lay by here], supposynge that hit hade bene the gentilwoman.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.35 : He is a persone, she thynkethe, of fair figure, A yong rotour, redy to hir pleasier.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)144 : For his plesur trowly ther lakkyd noght, With all deyntes trevly as cowde be thought.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)95/29 : Thi werkis [read: werkirs]..receyvid..licence to walowe in ther flesshely pleasures and vnrefrayned lechery.