Webster
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Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Pleasure

Pleas′ure (plĕzh′ūr; 135), n. [F. plaisir, originally an infinitive. See Please.] 1. The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish, or happiness produced by the expectation or the enjoyment of something good, delightful, or satisfying; — opposed to pain, sorrow, etc.

At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Ps. xvi. 11.

2. Amusement; sport; diversion; self-indulgence; frivolous or dissipating enjoyment; hence, sensual gratification; — opposed to labor, service, duty, self-denial, etc. "Not sunk in carnal pleasure." Milton.

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man. Prov. xxi. 17.

Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. 2 Tim. iii. 4.

3. What the will dictates or prefers as gratifying or satisfying; hence, will; choice; wish; purpose. "He will do his pleasure on Babylon." Isa. xlviii. 14.

Use your pleasure; if your love do not presuade you to come, let not my letter. Shak.

4. That which pleases; a favor; a gratification. Shak.

Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure Acts xxv. 9.

At pleasure, by arbitrary will or choice. Dryden. — To take pleasure in, to have enjoyment in. Ps. cxlvii. 11.

☞ Pleasure is used adjectively, or in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, pleasure boat, pleasure ground; pleasure house, etc.

Syn. — Enjoyment; gratification; satisfaction; comfort; solace; joy; gladness; delight; will; choice; preference; purpose; command; favor; kindness.

Pleas′ure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pleasured; p. pr. & vb. n. Pleasuring.] To give or afford pleasure to; to please; to gratify. Shak.

[Rolled] his hoop to pleasure Edith. Tennyson.

Pleas′ure, v. i. To take pleasure; to seek pursue pleasure; as, to go pleasuring.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Noah Porter, editor (Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913). Public domain. Text as transcribed by MICRA, Inc., from Project Gutenberg. Changed for Deep Dive Bible: Greek, which our source spelled in Latin letters, set in Greek letters; entries of one spelling merged into one article; Greek words our source left out (shown as “?”), read from the 1898 printing, from the same plates (the Library of Congress’s copy), where the place could be found with certainty. Of the others, 1,362 (a word or a single letter each) were inferred by AI from the context by the dictionary’s own rules and are marked with a wavy underline (tap or point at one to see the note); the rest, which could not be inferred with confidence, are left as “?”.