complease

English

Etymology

From Middle French complaire, from Latin complaceō.

Verb

complease (third-person singular simple present compleases, present participle compleasing, simple past and past participle compleased)

1. to convince
   • 1839, Friedrich Schiller, The song of the bell and other poems, page 88:

     The Germans seem to complease themselves in this sort of dubious and misty conception of things; which cloudiness, indeed, some people even elsewhere fancy they think to be essentially poetical.

   • 1890, Matteo Bandello, The Novels: Now First Done Into English Prose and Verse, page 219:

     Howeve, in case that which I shall require of you may belike seem to you grievous and hard to put in execution, I would fain know from you if you will do it or not, else hope not that I am ever like, what while I have breath in my body, to do aught to complease you.

   • 1913, Sir John Salusbury, Robert Chester, Poems, page 63:

     Who once immite [sic] his furie did surcease, And way-white waûes to vieû her did redound, Breaking at her sight her empire to complease, And blustring windes their forces did release, Least that their tûmult might her eares offend,

Anagrams

• someplace