📖 P — The English dictionary · page 37

pleaser — Everyday, meaning 1: A person or thing that pleases others.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (people-pleaser) Someone who always tries to make others happy, even when it is bad for themselves, and finds it hard to say no.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (crowd-pleaser) Something that lots of people enjoy, like a popular song or dish.↗ Example: Pizza is always a crowd-pleaser at parties.↗ · She is a people-pleaser and can't say no.↗ · That song was a real crowd-pleaser.↗ · Being a people-pleaser can make you tired.↗ · The magic show was a big pleaser with the little ones.↗ · It's kind to help, but you don't have to be a people-pleaser.↗

pleaseth — Early Modern English, meaning 1: «pleaseth» means «pleases», a form of «please»: Please is the polite word you add when you ask for something.↗ e.g. Can I have some water, please?↗ Example: And Abimelech said: 'Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.'↗ (Torah GEN.20.15, JPS 1917)

pleasingly — Everyday, meaning 1: In a way that gives pleasure, satisfaction or a good feeling.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal) Pleasantly, nicely, to a satisfying degree: pleasingly warm.↗ Example: The answer came out pleasingly neat: exactly 100.↗ · The garden was pleasingly quiet.↗ · The pattern is pleasingly symmetrical.↗ · The bath was pleasingly warm.↗ · Her picture was pleasingly bright and colourful.↗ · The test results were pleasingly good.↗ · The puzzle pieces clicked pleasingly into place.↗

pleasurable — Everyday, meaning 1: Pleasurable means giving pleasure or enjoyment; nice to feel or do.↗ Example: The twigs and leaves trembled in a pleasurable way.↗ · Reading a good story is pleasurable.↗ · The warm bath was a pleasurable end to the day.↗

pleasure — Everyday, meaning 1: Pleasure is the feeling of being happy or enjoying something.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A pleasure is something that makes you happy.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: «It's a pleasure» or «my pleasure» is a polite reply when someone thanks you.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (formal) «With pleasure» means gladly, yes I will.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: Pleasure can also mean what someone wishes or chooses to do.↗ Example: Reading is one of my greatest pleasures.↗ · «Thank you for helping.»↗ «My pleasure!»↗ · It was a pleasure to meet you.↗ · We go to the lake for pleasure, not for work.↗ · Grandpa takes pleasure in growing roses.↗ · «Can you pass the salt?»↗ «With pleasure.»↗ · The puppy wagged its tail with pleasure.↗ · "Is it your pleasure to rise?"↗ · And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'↗ (Torah GEN.18.12, JPS 1917)↗ · When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes until thou have enough at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.↗ (Torah DEU.23.24, JPS 1917)↗ · The Sixteenth Path is the Triumphal or Eternal Intelligence, so called because it is the pleasure of the Glory, beyond which is no other Glory like to it, and it is called also the Paradise prepared for the Righteous.↗ (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887)↗ · Is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure?↗ (Prophets JER.22.28, JPS 1917)↗ · For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and love her dust.↗ (Writings PSA.102.15, JPS 1917)↗ · To bind his princes at his pleasure, and teach his elders wisdom.↗ (Writings PSA.105.22, JPS 1917)↗

pleat — Everyday, meaning 1: A fold made in cloth by doubling it over and pressing or sewing it in place.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (verb) To make folds like this in cloth or paper.↗ Example: My school skirt has pleats all round.↗ · A kilt has neat pleats at the back.↗ · We pleated paper to make a fan.↗ · Iron the pleats so they stay sharp.↗ · The curtains were pleated at the top.↗ · Fold the paper into pleats like an accordion.↗ · The hats of the men were blue; the little woman’s hat was white, and she wore a white gown that hung in pleats from her shoulders.↗

plebeian — Everyday, meaning 1: (history) In ancient Rome, a plebeian was an ordinary citizen, not one of the rich noble families called patricians.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (formal, often rude) Plebeian means common, ordinary or not refined; snobs use it to look down on people or things.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (UK slang, rude) The short form «pleb» is an insult for someone thought to be common or low class.↗ Example: In Rome, most people were plebeians.↗ · Plebeians could not at first marry patricians.↗ · The plebeians fought for their own leaders, the tribunes.↗ · (formal) The snobby lady called the funfair plebeian.↗ · (rude) «Don't be a pleb,» he sneered.↗ · Calling someone a pleb is unkind.↗

pledge — Everyday, meaning 1: To pledge is to promise firmly, giving your word or faith.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: A pledge is a solemn promise.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A pledge is an item left as a security for a debt, or as a sign that you will keep your word.↗ Example: "I give that pledge," said Iollan.↗ · "We pledge it," said they.↗ · "I pass it and pledge it," cried the joyful king.↗ · The children made a pledge to keep the secret.↗ · And if he be a poor man, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge; (Torah DEU.24.12, JPS 1917)↗ · No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh a man's life to pledge.↗ (Torah DEU.24.6, JPS 1917)↗ · Thou shalt stand without, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring forth the pledge without unto thee.↗ (Torah DEU.24.11, JPS 1917)↗ · They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.↗ (Writings JOB.24.3, JPS 1917)↗ · There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor; (Writings JOB.24.9, JPS 1917)↗ · For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.↗ (Writings JOB.22.6, JPS 1917)↗

pledged — Everyday, meaning 1: Pledged means promised firmly or given as security for a debt.↗ Example: They pledged their faith that they would not harm her.↗ · He pledged his cottage to a neighbour.↗ · We pledged our help to the school.↗

pleiades — Everyday, meaning 1: The Pleiades is a bright cluster of stars in the night sky, in the constellation Taurus, also called the Seven Sisters; in Japan it is called Subaru, and in New Zealand Māori call it Matariki.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: In Greek myths, the Pleiades were seven sisters, daughters of Atlas, who were turned into stars.↗ Example: We saw the Pleiades on a clear winter night.↗ · The Pleiades look like a tiny group of stars.↗ · The Pleiades are also called the Seven Sisters.↗ · In New Zealand, Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades.↗ · The Subaru car logo shows the Pleiades.↗ · In the Greek myth, the Pleiades were seven sisters.↗ · With binoculars you can see dozens of stars in the Pleiades.↗ · Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.↗ (Writings JOB.9.9, JPS 1917)↗ · Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?↗ (Writings JOB.38.31, JPS 1917)↗

plenteous — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: Plentiful, giving a great deal.↗ Example: The LORD is slow to anger, and plenteous in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.↗ (Torah NUM.14.18, JPS 1917)↗ · The LORD is full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.↗ (Writings PSA.103.8, JPS 1917)↗ · O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption.↗ (Writings PSA.130.7, JPS 1917)↗ · For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to pardon, and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.↗ (Writings PSA.86.5, JPS 1917)↗

plenteousness — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: Plenty; a large amount of something.↗ Example: The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.↗ (Writings PRO.21.5, JPS 1917)↗

plentiful — Everyday, meaning 1: Plentiful means there is a lot of something, more than enough.↗ Example: Apples were plentiful in the autumn.↗ · Fish are plentiful in this river.↗ · There was a plentiful supply of water.↗ · In a good year, food is plentiful.↗ · Rabbits are plentiful in the fields.↗ · Sunshine is plentiful in Australia.↗ · A Walnut-tree, which grew by the roadside, bore every year a plentiful crop of nuts.↗

plentifully — Everyday, meaning 1: Plentifully means in large amounts, more than enough.↗ Example: Jack ate and drank plentifully at the feast.↗ · He sprinkled the ointment plentifully with pepper.↗ · The garden gave fruit plentifully that summer.↗ · How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!↗ (Writings JOB.26.3, JPS 1917)↗ · O love the LORD, all ye His godly ones; the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully repayeth him that acteth haughtily.↗ (Writings PSA.31.24, JPS 1917)↗

plenty — Everyday, meaning 1: Plenty means a lot, or more than enough.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: «Plenty of» is used before nouns to mean a lot of.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Plenty can mean a time of having a lot of food and goods.↗ Example: Drink plenty of water on hot days.↗ · We have plenty of time before the bus.↗ · There is plenty of food for everyone.↗ · Don't worry, there's plenty more.↗ · Get plenty of sleep before the test.↗ · «Do you need more paper?»↗ «No, I've got plenty.»↗ · Plenty of children came to the fair.↗ · "You've plenty now, peasant; arn't you content?↗ · And in the seven years of plenty the earth brought forth in heaps.↗ (Torah GEN.41.47, JPS 1917)↗ · Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.↗ (Torah GEN.41.29, JPS 1917)↗ · And the seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an end.↗ (Torah GEN.41.53, JPS 1917)↗ · I will abundantly bless her provision; I will give her needy bread in plenty.↗ (Writings PSA.132.15, JPS 1917)↗ · He maketh thy borders peace; He giveth thee in plenty the fat of wheat.↗ (Writings PSA.147.14, JPS 1917)↗ · They asked, and He brought quails, and gave them in plenty the bread of heaven.↗ (Writings PSA.105.40, JPS 1917)↗

plenum — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A space completely filled with matter, or a full meeting of all members.↗

plesiosaur — Everyday, meaning 1: A plesiosaur was a large sea reptile that lived at the time of the dinosaurs, with a broad body, four flippers and often a very long neck.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Plesiosaurs are now extinct; we know them from fossils.↗ Example: Mary Anning found a plesiosaur fossil on the beach.↗ · A plesiosaur swam using four big flippers.↗ · Plesiosaurs ate fish and squid.↗ · The museum has a plesiosaur skeleton with a very long neck.↗ · Plesiosaurs were reptiles, but not dinosaurs.↗ · Some people say the Loch Ness Monster is a plesiosaur, but there is no proof.↗

pliable — Everyday, meaning 1: Easily bent without breaking; flexible.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (about people) Easily persuaded or controlled by others.↗ Example: Willow twigs are pliable, so we can weave baskets.↗ · Warm the clay in your hands to make it more pliable.↗ · Copper wire is pliable and easy to bend.↗ · The leather became pliable after oiling.↗ · The bully picked a pliable boy to do his dirty work.↗ · Pliable plastic is used for lunchboxes.↗

pliant — Everyday, meaning 1: Pliant means bendy and easy to bend or shape without breaking.↗ Example: They wove a net with the pliant willow.↗ · Young twigs are pliant, but old wood is stiff.↗ · She has a pliant mind and learns quickly.↗

plication — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A fold or a folding.↗

pliers — Everyday, meaning 1: A hand tool with two handles and two jaws, used for gripping, bending, twisting or cutting wire.↗ Example: Pass me the pliers so I can bend this wire.↗ · Dad used a pair of pliers to pull out the nail.↗ · Pliers are a kind of lever.↗ · The electrician cut the cable with pliers.↗ · Long-nose pliers can reach into small spaces.↗ · We used pliers to make jewellery from wire.↗

plight — Everyday, meaning 1: A plight is a bad or difficult situation that is hard to get out of.↗ Example: He saw that he was in an evil plight again.↗ · Never was a bride seen in such a dismal plight.↗ · The swallowing of sea-water only increased his miserable plight.↗

plod — Everyday, meaning 1: verb: To walk slowly and heavily, as if tired.↗ e.g. "We plodded through the mud."↗ Everyday, meaning 2: verb: To work slowly and steadily at something boring or hard.↗ e.g. "plod on with homework".↗ Everyday, meaning 3: noun.↗ e.g. A slow, heavy walk.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: noun (UK slang, "plod" or "PC Plod"): the police or a police officer; a bit mocking.↗ Example: We plodded home through the rain.↗ · The tired horse plodded up the hill.↗ · I plodded on with my maths until it was done.↗ · The elephant plodded slowly across the plain.↗ · "Watch out, here comes the plod!"↗ (UK slang)↗ · After a long plod, we reached the top.↗ · The old man got two sacks of money here, and plodded away homewards with these.↗

plodding — Everyday, meaning 1: Walking slowly and heavily.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Working slowly and steadily but without much excitement or skill.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (of a story or film) Slow and dull.↗ Example: We heard plodding footsteps on the stairs.↗ · The plodding donkey carried the bags.↗ · The film had a plodding story.↗ · Plodding along, the tortoise won the race.↗ · His plodding style got the job done.↗ · The plodding pace made the walk last forever.↗ · Meanwhile the Tortoise kept plodding on, and in time reached the goal.↗

plonk — Everyday, meaning 1: verb (informal, UK, Australia, NZ): To put something down heavily or carelessly.↗ e.g. "Plonk your bag there."↗ Everyday, meaning 2: verb (informal): To sit down heavily.↗ e.g. "He plonked himself on the sofa."↗ Everyday, meaning 3: noun (informal, UK, Australia).↗ e.g. Cheap wine.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: noun: A dull, heavy sound, like a single piano note: "plonk!".↗ Example: Just plonk your coat on the chair.↗ · She plonked herself down next to me.↗ · Dad plonked the shopping on the table.↗ · They had a bottle of cheap plonk with dinner.↗ · The little boy plonked out a tune on the piano.↗ · Don't plonk that heavy box on my toe!↗