displease

English

Etymology

Middle English displesen, from Anglo-Norman despleisir, desplere, from Old French desplere, from des- + plere.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪsˈpliːz/
  • Rhymes: -iːz

Verb

displease (third-person singular simple present displeases, present participle displeasing, simple past and past participle displeased)

  1. (transitive) To make not pleased; to cause a feeling of disapprobation or dislike in; to be disagreeable to; to vex slightly.
    The boy's rudeness displeased me.
    I felt displeased with the boy.
    • (Can we date this quote by Bible?), Psalms lxxxv. 5 (Book of Common Prayer)
      Wilt thou be displeased at us forever?
  2. (intransitive) To give displeasure or offense.
  3. (transitive, obsolete) To fail to satisfy; to miss of.
    • (Can we date this quote by Beaumont and Fletcher?)
      I shall displease my ends else.

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Further reading

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