different between predilection vs pleasure

English

Alternative forms

• prædilection (archaic)

Etymology

Borrowed from French prédilection.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p?i?.d??l?k.?n?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?p??.d??l?k.?n?/
• Rhymes: -?k??n

Noun

predilection (countable and uncountable, plural predilections)

1. A condition of favoring or liking; a tendency towards; proclivity; predisposition.
   • 1967, Flann O’Brien, The Third Policeman, ch. 2,

     A row of houses he regards as a row of necessary evils. The softening and degeneration of the human race he attributes to its progressive predilection for interiors and waning interest in the art of going out and staying there.

   • 1987, Edwin M. Yoder Jr., "Lewis Powell a Fine Sense of Balance," Washington Post, 29 Jun.,

     But for him the first rule of judging was to set aside personal predilection and vote the law and the facts.

   • 2000, Terry McCarthy, "Lost Generation," Time Asia, 23 Oct.,

     ... youth’s predilection for revolt.

   • 2001, Marina Cantacuzino, "On deadly ground," The Guardian, 13 Mar.,

     Wilson doesn’t see any inconsistency between his socialism and his predilection for the high life.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:predilection

Translations

English

Etymology

From Early Modern English pleasur, plesur, alteration (with ending accommodated to -ure) of Middle English plaisir (“pleasure”), from Old French plesir, plaisir (“to please”), infinitive used as a noun, conjugated form of plaisir or plaire, from Latin place? (“to please, to seem good”), from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh?-k- (“wide and flat”). Related to Dutch plezier (“pleasure, fun”). More at please.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?pl???/
• (General American) enPR: pl?zh??r, IPA^(key): /?pl???/
• Rhymes: -???(?)
• Hyphenation: pleas?ure

Noun

pleasure (countable and uncountable, plural pleasures)

1. (uncountable) A state of being pleased or contented; gratification.

   Synonyms: delight, gladness, gratification, happiness, indulgence, satisfaction

   Antonyms: displeasure, pain
2. (countable) A person, thing or action that causes enjoyment.

   Synonyms: delight, joy

   • Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure
3. (uncountable) One's preference.

   Synonyms: desire, fancy, want, will, wish

4. (formal, uncountable) The will or desire of someone or some agency in power.

   Synonym: discretion

   • He will do his pleasure on Babylon.

Derived terms

Translations

Interjection

pleasure

1. pleased to meet you, "It's my pleasure"

Verb

pleasure (third-person singular simple present pleasures, present participle pleasuring, simple past and past participle pleasured)

1. (transitive) To give or afford pleasure to.

   Synonyms: please, gratify
2. (transitive) To give sexual pleasure to.

3. (intransitive, dated) To take pleasure; to seek or pursue pleasure.

Translations

Related terms

• displeasure
• please
• pleasant

Further reading

• pleasure in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• pleasure in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• serpulae