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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Pleasure


PLEASURE, noun plezh'ur.

1. The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish or happiness produced by enjoyment or the expectation of good; opposed to pain. We receive pleasure from the indulgence of appetite; from the view of a beautiful landscape; from the harmony of sounds; from agreeable society; from the expectation of seeing an absent friend; from the prospect of gain or success of any kind. pleasure bodily and mental, carnal and spiritual, constitutes the whole of positive happiness, as pain constitutes the whole of misery.

PLEASURE is properly positive excitement of the passions or the mind; but we give the name also to the absence of excitement, when that excitement is painful; as when we cease to labor, or repose after fatigue, or when the mind is tranquilized after anxiety or agitation.

PLEASURE is susceptible of increase to any degree; but the word when unqualified, expresses less excitement or happiness than delight or joy.

2. Sensual or sexual gratification.

3. Approbation.

The Lord taketh pleasure in his people. Psalms 147:10.

and 149.

4. What the will dictates or prefers; will; choice; purpose; intention; command; as, use your pleasure

Cyrus, he is my shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure Isaiah 44:28.

My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure

Isa 46.

5. A favor; that which pleases.

Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure answered Paul. Acts 25:9.

6. Arbitrary will or choice. He can vary his scheme at pleasure

PLEAS'URE, verb transitive plezh'ur. To give or afford pleasure to; to please; to gratify. [A word authorized by some good writers, but superfluous and not much used.]