Displease
/dɪsˈpliz/noun
To make someone feel annoyed or dissatisfied.
Did you know?In the realm of mysticism, pleasing or displeasing someone was often linked to the favor of unseen spirits or deities, making emotions a matter of life and death.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pleh₂-
“To fill or to be full, implying satisfaction or pleasure.”
Latin
Latin
placere
“To please, to be agreeable, often linked to the favor of the gods.”
Old French
Old French
desplaisier
“To displease or cause discomfort, rooted in a negation of pleasure.”
Middle English
English
displese
“To fail to satisfy or make unhappy, emerging as a direct borrowing from Old French.”
Modern English
English
displease
“To cause dissatisfaction or annoyance, carrying the weight of both social and emotional consequences.”
Explore more surprising origins