please

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   used in polite request

   please pay attention

2. 2
   verb

   give pleasure to or be pleasing to

   These colors please the senses

3. 3
   verb

   give satisfaction

   The waiters aim to please.

4. 4
   verb

   be the will of or have the will to

   They could do many things if they pleased.

5. 5
   verb

   To make happy or satisfy; to give pleasure to.

   Her presentation pleased the executives.

6. 6
   verb

   To desire; to will; to be pleased by.

   Just do as you please.

7. 7
   adv

   Used to make a polite request.

   Please, pass the bread.

8. 8
   intj

   Used as an affirmative to an offer.

   Near-synonym: thank you

Etymology

From Middle English plesen, plaisen, borrowed from Old French plaise, conjugated form of plaisir or plaire, from Latin placeō (“to please, to seem good”), from the Proto-Indo-European *pleHk- (“pleasingness, permission”). In this sense, displaced native Old English līcian, whence Modern English like.