pleasure

Pronunciation: /ˈplɛʒɚ/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
  2. noun something or someone that provides a source of happiness
  3. noun a formal expression

Etymology

From Early Modern English pleasur, plesur, alteration (with ending accommodated to -ure) of Middle English plaisir (“pleasure”), from Old French plesir, plaisir (“to please”), infinitive used as a noun, conjugated form of plaisir or plaire, from Latin placeō (“to please, to seem good”), from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂-k- (“wide and flat”). Related to Dutch plezier (“pleasure, fun”). More at please.

In classic literature

Synonyms

pleasance

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
feeling
Narrower (hyponyms)
enjoyment, sexual pleasure, delight, pleasantness, comfort
Opposite (antonyms)
pain

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