pleasure

pleasure [plezh′ər]

n.

[ME, altered < plesir < MFr plaiser, orig. inf.: see PLEASE]

1. a pleased feeling; enjoyment; delight; satisfaction

2. one's wish, will, or choice [what is your pleasure?]

3. a thing that gives delight or satisfaction

4. gratification of the senses; sensual satisfaction

5. amusement; fun

vt.

pleasured, pleasuring

1. to give pleasure to, now specif., sexually

2. to have sexual intercourse with

vi.

to take pleasure (in)

pleasureful

adj.

SYN.- PLEASURE is the general term for an agreeable feeling of satisfaction, ranging from a quiet sense of gratification to a positive sense of happiness; DELIGHT implies a high degree of obvious pleasure, openly and enthusiastically expressed [a child's delight with a new toy ]; JOY describes a keenly felt, exuberant, often demonstrative happiness [their joy at his safe return ]; ENJOYMENT suggests a somewhat more quiet feeling of satisfaction with that which pleases [our enjoyment of the recital ] -ANT. DISPLEASURE, SORROW, VEXATION