different between pleasantly vs pleasing

English

Alternative forms

• pleasauntlie, plesantlie, pleasauntly, plesantly, plesauntly (all obsolete)

Etymology

pleasant +? -ly

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pl?z?ntli/
• Hyphenation: pleas?ant?ly

Adverb

pleasantly (comparative more pleasantly, superlative most pleasantly)

1. In a pleasant manner; so as to achieve a pleasant result.

   He smiled pleasantly at passersby.

   They were pleasantly surprised at the result.

2. (degree) Lightly
3. (obsolete) Ludicrously.
   • 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, ch. 1, Midas

     In workhouses, pleasantly so named, because work cannot be done in them.

Translations

References

• Webster, Noah (1828) , “pleasantly”, in An American Dictionary of the English Language

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?pli?z??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?pliz??/
• Rhymes: -i?z??

Etymology 1

From Middle English plesynge, pleizinge, plesende (present participle), equivalent to please +? -ing.

Adjective

pleasing (comparative more pleasing, superlative most pleasing)

1. Agreeable; giving pleasure, cheer, enjoyment or gratification.

Synonyms

• enjoyable
• gratifying
• satisfying

Derived terms

• pleasing fungus beetle

Related terms

Translations

Verb

pleasing

1. present participle of please.

Etymology 2

From Middle English plesing, plesinge (“satisfaction; pleasing”), equivalent to please +? -ing.

Noun

pleasing (countable and uncountable, plural pleasings)

1. pleasure or satisfaction, as in the phrase "to my pleasing."
   • a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, The Passion of our Blessed Saviour (sermon)

     What more palpable confutation can there be of human vanity and arrogance, of all lofty imaginations, all presumptuous confidences, all turgid humours, all fond self-pleasings and self-admirings, than is that tragical cross […]

Anagrams

• apelings, elapsing, leapings, pealings