pleasure

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*pleh₂-k-“wide and flat”
2. Latin · derived fromplaceō“to please, to seem good”
3. Old French · derived fromplesir
4. Middle English · inherited fromplaisir“pleasure”
5. English todaypleasure

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.

Words from the same roots