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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ples(e, Pleis(e, Plais(e, v. Also: pless(e, plece; pleisz, pleiss(e, pleice, pleys(e, pleysse; pleas(e, pleais; plaize, plays, plas(e; plis. [ME. and e.m.E. plesen (a 1325), plecen (c 1350), pleis (c 1440), please (1423), pleace, also playsen, plasen (both 1398), place (c 1460), plaise (Caxton), OF. plaisir, L. placēre to be pleasing, f. root plac- as in placidus gentle, placāre to calm, etc. Cf. mod. F. plaire (f. pop. L. placĕre). See also Plesit.] To please, in various senses.

1. intr. To give pleasure or satisfaction to (till) a person or his feelings.Also, once, it plesis (to a person) of something.(1) 1375 Barb. i. 198.
Scottis men mycht do na thing That euir mycht pleys to thar liking — a1400 Leg. S. xii. 378.
Fleschly lustis he lefyt ay & plesit to God nycht & day c1420 Wynt. viii. 1590.
That plesyd till this Kyng Edward welle 1456 Hay II. 102/33.
For it is the thing that plesis maist to God 1490 Irland Mir. I. 12/35. c1490 Porteous Noblenes 32 (Ch. & M.).
Larges … plesis to itself and proffittis all otheris c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. x. 33.
As I be althingis pleise to almen(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 711 (C).
It plesed to Pryame … Of the Gregeois fals spekynges

b. ? refl., or ? const. dat. refl. pron.: To take pleasure (to do something or in something). [Cf. ME. plese (to) oneself, in this sense (Wyclif, thereafter appar. obs.).] c1475 Wall. xi. 145.
The king him plessed in all his [Wallace's] gudly mane a1500 Lanc. 68.
Gret confort till ony vicht it [bird-song] wer That plessith thame of lustenes to here c 1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I. p. cix.
All sik … that wald be contrarious to ocht him plesit doo

2. To have the will or desire; to think proper, see fit (to, for to).Const. infin. or clause compl.Appar. only Sc. till c 1530.(1) c1460 Consail Vys Man 101.
Thow may nocht ples hyme to rapruf 1500 Acta Conc. II. 433.
Gif this parti plesis tyl raise ony brevis 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 195.
Beseik hir … Scho plesit schaw thé evyn Thy destaneys 1520 Fife Sheriff Ct. 174.
To be occupeit be … sic personis as he pleisis to dispone thaim to 1535 Stewart 45061.
Gif he of him plesit for to haif peice [etc.] 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 243.
Quhen ȝe pleis to Leithgow pas Thare sall ȝe se ane lustylas 1549 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xxiv.
As the King of Frances maieste will pleis command him thairto 1552 Soc. Ant. II. 414.
I … sall rasaue thankful payment … in greit & small soumez lykas as thai pleis offer and perfurnis 1556 Reg. Cupar A. II. 261.
Samony ky … as we plais deliuer thame 1559 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 266.
As I wald pleisse to charge 1592 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 73.
And na others except sic of the counsall as plesis to cum thairto 1592 Acts III. 575/2.
At the instance of the partie offendit gif they pleis to persew a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 423.
Albeit that the kirk … wald pleis to hald thee up 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 47.
Obleist to pay foir his buird quhairever he pleisseit to eit 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 226.
At any syd therof they please choyse 1673 Rothesay B. Rec. 253.
For uplifting of … quhat they pleisit to bestow for that … work(2) 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 106.
Gif your lordschipe plesis that I by of thaim send me word 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 196.
To … ony vther quhome to he sall pleis the samyn be gevin 15.. Clar. iv. 1529.
I please weill … that ȝe Formist of all into my livaray be

b. Elliptically, with omission of compl.(1) 1474 Acta Aud. 35/2.
Thai sall occupij alsmekle therof as thai ples 1490 Irland Mir. II. 22/33.
He may do all that he plesis 1498 Acta Conc. II. 187.
To call quhat persone he plesis 1515–6 Reg. Privy S. I. 417/1.
To put … xxiiii werkmen sic as he ples to lawbour in the mynd a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 130/18.
It vas nocht … seyne sa lange as he plesit 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 208.
[Thou] stall out sic gere as thow plesit 1606 Misc. Spald. C. II. 152.
That everie man that plesis wearis gunis [etc.] 1627 Laing MSS. I. 178.
Mak sik use thairof as your lordship plessis(b) 1549 Compl. 126/3.
The quhilk foliful affectionis vil be ther auen confusione quhen God pleysis 1551 Hamilton Cat. 89. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4368.
Thocht ȝe pleis sa, the same ȝit pleis not I 15.. Dum Wyf 110.
Scho will claver quhat scho pleis 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 163/14.
Reid all the evangell quha pleissis he sall find [etc.] c1575 Balfour Pract. 236.
To leive … his wapinis [etc.] … to quhom he pleisis a1578 Pitsc. I. 36/10.
And everie man that pleissis sall put hand in the kingis awin persone 1581 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 122/15.
Lauch alsmekle as ye pleis 1603 Crim. Trials II. 410.
[To] depairt … to quhatsumeuir pairtis he pleissis 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS. 30 Nov.
[To] choise any tua men they pleis(c) 1581 Prot. Bk. J. Robertsone 10.
To marie … with quhatsumeuir uther man scho plais 1592 Conv. Burghs I. 379. 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 357.
Lat sik bourders estime what thay plaise 1638 Black Bk. Taymouth xxi.
Quhen your lordship plaissis your lordship may lede my lorde knau it 1659 Blairs P. 88.
He micht dow in that as he plaiset, I had no melling therein(d) 1656 Laing MSS. I. 305.
Ye most not leav wher others plises(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 57.
It war bot merrens to be mair bot gif our myndis pleisit 1531 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 44.
And in the mayne tyme the saidis tennenttis and thai plais sall pas with thair cornys a1540 Freiris Berw. 451 (M) (see 3 d (1) below). c1590 Fowler II. 81/13.
They might weill if they had pleseid haue abstaened a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1566.

c. Plese ȝe, may you think fit (that something should be done); give your consent. Cf. 2 d below. — 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3615.
Schir pleis ȝe that we twa invaid thame And ȝe sell se ws sone degraid thame

d. As a courteous circumlocution to avoid a direct imperative: Plese (ȝe), also ye plese, (to) do something.(1) c 1550 Exch. R. XVIII. 502.
Ples ye to wit that I hav beyn hewyle trobillit with ane sair leg 1560 Waus Corr. I. 21.
Anent this poinct off the courte ye plais send me sowm risolut ansowr(2) 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 8.
Mademe … pleis wit I have spokin with my lord governour 1610 Old Ross-shire I. 345.
Pleiswitt 1617 Ib. 32.
Pleis according to ourlast communing to receive [etc.] 1617 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 144.
Pleis ressave the contract

3. intr. and tr. Impersonal, or quasi-impersonal, with formal subj. it (the real subj. being a following infin. or clause): It plesis (to, till) a person, it seems good to; it is (one's) will, desire or pleasure.Const. dat., also in later use simple personal obj.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 415 (C).
To the god … It plesed hem … To mak solempne sacrifice 1456 Hay I. 282/11.
It plesis me to speke sum thing of colouris of armes 1458 Sc. N. & Q. I. 19.
They sall haue thair laires … in quhat place of the kirk it plesis them to ly 1513 Acta Conc. MS. XXVI. 23.
That it lykit and plesit the said Kingis graice of France till [etc.](b) 1543 Hamilton P. I. 430.
Quhairfor it will pleis you to cause ane Inglisman cum heir with certane of thaim [bibles] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 128.
It will ȝow pleis to haue ane vther wyfe 1562-3 Winȝet II. 21/30.
Bot quhomesoeuir it pleisit as it war furth of a superiour place to bete doun to the ground 1605 Reg. Privy C. VII. 704.
That it wald pleis your lordships … chois ane sufficient … clerk(c) 1521 Doug. in Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xv.
I … wald gladly … that it mot plays ȝow to schaw me [etc.] 1642 Montgomery Mem. 294.
When ever it shall plais his devein majesty … to call oupon me(d) c1510 Prester John fol. 310.
And gyf it plasit ȝow till cum till ws(e) c1610 Melville Mem. 126.
That it wald please hir maieste not to imput vnto him that lourd falt 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 270.
To be redelyverit as it sould pleas his maiestie to appoynt 1681 Echt-Forbes Chart. 160.
Such … bequeathments as it may please the said … to legat or bequeath to hir(2) 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 3.
Sen it hes plesit the inscrutabill … iustice of God … that this present plaig [etc.] 1570 Q. Mary in Southesk MSS. 12.
Whensoever it sall ples God we returne therto [sc. Scotland]

b. In elliptical constructions, the real subject being understood or implied. 1456 Hay I. 195/33.
Quharfore and it plesit to the prince he mycht wele passe 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II. 401.
The sade Georg … may … lowis his sade landis quhat tyme it plesis him 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 409/2.
[Authority to] bere … to and fray this said realme v townis of quhat merchandis it sal ples hym 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 50.
Geff it ples the party [etc.] 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 431.
Quhare euer it plesith God now man I wend — a1540 Freiris Berw. 468 (B).
Sen it pleisis ȝow [M. to ȝow] that ar heir

c. In senses a and b, with omission of it, or subsumption of it in a relative.(1) c1475 Wall. viii. 1238.
Madem … How plessis yow our ostyng for to se? a1500 Lanc. 3015.
‘Sir’ quod sche ‘quhat plessith yhow to do Ȝhe may dewys’ 1521 Doug. (Sm.) I. p. xciv.
Siclike as sall ples the thre estatis to apont(b) 1492 Reg. Episc. Morav. 249.
Undir sic payn as sal pleis our soverane lord … to decern … tharapon 1522 Dickinson Sourcebk. (ed. 2) II. 72.
We will … take our aventure … as sall pleys God to send it 1596 Dalr. I. 265/1.
William … or evin as now pleises the peple in this age to say Scotis Gulielme 1621 Conv. Burghs III. 115.
To … keip all sic iniunctiounes … as sall pleis the borrowis to injoyin to him(c) 1686 Douglas Corr. 381.
To mak what euse thé plaize of the howse(d) a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 126/4.
As hes pleasit God to gif vs grace ve haue schawin [etc.](2) 1467 Acts II. 89/1.
Or els as pleisis the partyis 1476 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 55.
To bruk and jois or to dispone thairapone as ples us best 1490 Irland Mir. I. 53/4.
[To] do as him plesis 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 246/1.
As sall ples to him and thaim Ib. 250/2.
[To] pas in … uther partis quhare ples thaim 1548–9 Corr. M. Lorraine 292.
Plissis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5586.
Say on quhat plesis ȝow 1573 Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI. 60.
Gevand his assay quhen pleisis him a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. li. 50.
Ilk … limmer … With frie brydill sall doe quhat pleis thame best 1596 Dalr. I. 205/12.

d. In phrases of deferential courtesy, also of piety.As: plese it (you), gif (and) (it) plese (one) or gif (one) plese, gif God it plese, may it plese (you), it will (schal, may) plese (you), it plese (you); plese (you); plese.Freq., in the formal opening passage of a letter. For numerous further examples, see, e.g., Corr. M. Lorraine.(1) c 1515 Doug. (Sm.) I. p. xx.
Plesse yt you to vnderstand that [etc.] 1524 Douglas Corr. 90.
It will ples ȝour grace to aperdon me at I amm sa bald a1540 Freiris Berw. 440 (B).
Ȝour serwand wald I se Gif it ȝow pleis [M. Gif ȝe pleis] that we may drynk togidder 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 9, etc.
Madame efter humill commendacione of my service it pleis your graice … the lordis … has direckit [etc.] 15.. Clar. i. 228.
‘Madame’ he said ‘pleis it ȝour guidlieheid Ȝe mane it secreit keip’ 1566 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 52.
Ples it your majestie I am laitlie informit that [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 224/1.
And it pleise the kingis maiestie and ȝour honouris that is heir, I say [etc.] 1607 Highland P. III. 105.
May it pleis your maiestie to apardoune my importunitie 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 204.
It may pleas your lordship [etc.] Ib. 205.
It will pleis your lordship to [etc.] — a1500 Seven S. 1393.
Gif God it ples … I trast [etc.](2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxix. 1.
My lordis of chacker pleis ȝow to heir My coumpt 1524 Douglas Corr. 89.
Ples Ib. 95.
Pleise 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 24.
As to that, plece your grace I sall do conform to your hienes writingis 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. ii. 158.
Pleis your majestie 1581 Nugae Scoticae 35.
Pleice ȝoure L. 1583–4 Cal. Sc. P. VII. 48.
Pleis your honour, send the inclosit … to … France a1605 Montg. Son. xxvi. 14.
That pleis his grace I come to court agane 1607 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxxxvi.
Pleis your maist sacred maiestie we haue [etc.] 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 315.
Pleiss your lordships. I doubt not [etc.](3) 1558 Waus Corr. 10.
Broder … plais I haif maid ane toill 1588 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 38.
Freyndis … efter our maist hartlie commendaciouns ples we thocht guid to advertise you [etc.] 1614 Ib. 127.
Pleis yisterday … the commissioner convenit [etc.](b) 1614 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 129, etc.
Plais I receavit ȝour letter [etc.]

4. tr. To please or gratify (a person); to give satisfaction to.(1) a1400 Leg. S. Prol. 24.
Storysse … That to pless God vs ma kene Ib. x. 195. 1405 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 58.
Gif thar be ocht that may plece yw that I may do c1420 Wynt. i. 442. 1456 Hay I. 275/6.
Sen it plesis thaim, the best is to lat it pas c1460 Regim. Princ. 60 (Marchm.).
Cheis … men of gude That God and man plesis thair gouernale 1478 Peebles B. Rec. I. 183.
The communite sall … put to the seruice qwhat chaplan that plessis tham best c1475 Wall. v. 233.
Plesd 1489–90 Acta Aud. 142/1. a1500 Quare Jel. 129 (see Gladen v.).
Plesyn 1496 Acta Conc. II. 36.
To do al thingis … that plesit him except [etc.] 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 48.
For ij^c ducatis in Spanȝe to be payit be him in quhat stuf ples the king 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 158.
That mychty prynces To ples lawly with offerandis thé addres 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 17.
This qualitie pleseth many of the Cattaeans — 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1028.
I beleue it plesit not his intent(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 1275 (C).
Scho pressit to pleysse hym c1450-2 Howlat 930 (A).
Ȝit sall I preif ȝow to pleis c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 68/7. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxvii. 33.
Pleis we this Lord that did in battell byd For ws Ib. lxxvii. 70.
Thé for to pleis thay socht all way and mein 1533 Gau 29/19.
Pleisz 1549 Compl. 20/1.
Ane pottar vil … brak the grite pottis quhen thai pleyse hym nocht a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 37.
Ȝit man I … jouk and nod sum patroun for to pleis a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. xxix. 46.
Quha mekill hes, the ma thai haue to pleis 1596 Dalr. I. 203/9.
That the ald band … betuene the Scottis and Pechtes pleiset him verie weil a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xiv. 15.
But libertie, vhat might me pleis?(c) 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. Pray. 22.
That I nather desire to plaise nor feir to displaise ony vther bot ȝow 1628 St. A. Baxter Bks. 88.
To be obedient … to thair maisteris and to plaise thair callandis(d) a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 889.
It is hard to serve tua maisters and please baith the pairties(e) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 333.
Pleais(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 685 (Bann.).
‘A, silly Lowrance’ quod the wolf … ‘It plesis me that ȝe ar penitent’ a1578 Pitsc. II. 155/6.
My Lord Lyndsay was weill plessit that he had gottin the duike at this pase

b. absol. — a1500 Bernardus 219.
Gef quhillumys pleseis ioculatoris … Fenȝe thé thar fantasy to here a1568 Bann. MS. 132 a/14.
Allyk sall pleis eis or diseis a1568 Scott xxvii. 27.
Quhair power ma not plais Adew withowt diseis

5. Only passive: To be plesit (of a person, throw, of, be or with a thing, or without const.), to be pleased, gratified, contented or well-satisfied.(1) 1471 Peebles B. Rec. I. 167.
At nother man nor woman by … quhill the nychburis be plessyt a1500 Colk. Sow Prol. 37.
Gyd ȝow so that first ȝour God plesit be Ib. i. 16.
The girle [was] for the tyme plesit c1500-c1512 Dunb. lvi. 5.
Quha hes nane [sc. reason] ar plesit na wyis c1590 Fowler I. 182/14.
We … baith ar pleasde 1631 Justiciary Cases I. 167.
Seameing to be weill pleisit 1646 Dalkeith Presb. in Butler Leighton 225.
Not being well pleaset the brether sent forth … Mr. Robert Lichton(2) 1490 Irland Mir. II. 117/19.
For than God is plesit of him a1500 Seven S. 196.
Art thow plesit of thi masteris now? 1508–9 Perth Guildry 160 (19 Jan.).
& quhame thay ar content & pleysit of to haue in … nichtbourheid(3) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 862.
God wald be Mare plesyt thru humylite Na strinth of man a1500 Seven S. 554.
Tharof wele plesit was the baire And ete and leit the gnawyn be c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv. 510.
Madame how ar ȝe pleisit of this cheir a1578 Pitsc. I. 70/27.
The pepill war sune be thir fair plessant wordis pleasit 1627 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 278.
[They] wer verie well pleasit with the said peyment c1650 Spalding I. 273.
Quhairwith they war not weill pleissit

b. To have the desire or will to do something; to choose; to think proper, see fit. a1568 Bann. MS. 253 a/3.
Sen ȝe ar pleisit to pleis ane vthir wy 1570 Sat. P. xii. 93.
God wes pleist to pas him out of pyne a1585, a1568 Montg. P. iii. 1. 1605 Melvill 579.
Iff your lordschip wilbe plessit to reveil your lordschipis mynd 1610 Laing MSS. I. 123.
I cane be plesit to gif evere ane of yow … benefeit of me 1627 Dumbarton B. Rec. 12.
Gif they be pleased to tak the half of the bargaine aff their hand 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 68.
That your majestie would be gratiouslie pleased to forbeare the laying of anie farther burtheins upoun him 1633 Edinb. B. Rec. VII. 316.
Plised 1638 Annandale Corr. 296.
His lordship … is pleased to craiu eight thousand merks of annwelrent 1695 Hist. Clan Gregor II. 276.
For as much as ane noble lord John Lord Murray is pleased to receive me

6. Only Sc.: To satisfy a. by payment of compensation for (of harm done to another, b. by payment (of) an amount due) (for a debt, etc., ? or in good will).See Assith v. 1 for further examples.Cf. Plesour n. 2., also please = ‘pay for or return the value of anything received’, in the later north. English dials. of Yks., Lancs. and Ches.a. 1497–8 Acta Conc. II. 143.
That the sade James had plesit him for the punctis contenit in the summondis 1521 Liber Melros II. 632.
Aye and quhill thai be contentit assithit and plesit of all dampnages and skaithis 1548 Crim. Trials I. i. 336.
That thai … sall assythe satefy [sic] and pleise Robert Cathcart … for the mutilatioune committit be thame vpoune himb. (1) 1496 Acta Conc. II. 15.
Grantit … that he was plesit and payit of the tother half of [the debt] 1499–1500 Acta Conc. II. 370.
Quhil he pleise the thesaurare of the soume of v^c merkis 1521 Maxwell Mem. I. 246 (see Content a.¹ (1)).(2) 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 317/1.
He [the abbot] has … aggreit with … his compeditour anent his … clame of the said abbay and plesit him for the sammyn 1526–7 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 84.
We ordand Bellenden to pleis Jenot Brown for hir custome thir twa yeris bygane 1530 Reg. Privy S. II. 94/1.
Thai plesand the lordis of the ground for the saidis stedingis … as efferis 1539 Glasgow Prot. IV. 118.
To geif to thame [12 s.] … or ellis pleis thame for thair travellis as he and thai can best aggre(3) 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 23.
And gevin him to fie pilottis and pleis the company [£4. 17. 6]

7. Only Sc.: To be pleased with; to like, approve (of). c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 4141.
The fortoun followit him sa halely That euery man plesit his cumpaney Quhan thai hade of him knawlege a1500 Seven S. 1341.
Scho at hir … Sperit how plesit scho hir lord. … Scho said … ‘Ane notherluf I will ches me’ Ib. 1767.
The empriour said that wele I pleis 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 120.
Quhat deith ȝe ples the lyfe fra me gar taik Ib. ix. vii. 5. 1518 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 180.
That the inhabitantis … be nocht compellit to lay thair gudis bot to quhat schippis thai pleisis best 1535 Stewart 39816.
The thing that tha [sc. women] desire Into thair mynd burnis … Quhill that tha get the same thing that tha pleis 1545 Reg. Cupar A. II. 33. 1547 Treas. Acc. IX. 112.
Ane other bonet to his grace becaus he plesit nocht the fynnes of the first 15.. Clar. iv. 1642.
‘If ȝe the cullour pleise he bade me speire.’ ‘I pleise it weill,’ quoch scho 1566 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 499.
Quhilk the tua he pleissett best 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 45.
The Erll of Murray plesit not mony [interprysis] of mariage than attemptit 1577 Douglas Corr. 233.
Send ȝour ȝoung hors … that I may se gif I lyk hym or nocht. Gif I pleis hym thair salbe na danger to ȝow 1616 Haigs of Bemersyde 139. a1659 W. Guthrie Christians Gt. Interest (1766) 119.
You wonder that any man should not please the device of salvation by Christ 1719 Wodrow Corr. II. 470.
I please what you term the demy [paper]