pleasance, plaisance, pleas a unce

[Fr. plaisance, from plaisir =to please.]. 1. Pleasure, gayety, pleasantry, frolicsomene . ( Shakesp .: Pa ionate Pilgrim , 158.) 2. A part of a garden or pleasure-grounds attached to a mansion, and shut in and secluded by trees, shrubs, . The interest of this word, to the people of this country, had a strong revival during the World's Columbian Exposition, by reason of the application of the name to the great pleasure resort of the visit ors to the Exhibition. Under the name of Midway Plaisance existed a long, broad strip of land, on both sides of which were grouped some of the most remarkable and enjoyable exhibits of the vast aggregation of wonders collected at Chicago in 1893. The manners and customs of almost every people and race could be here seen exemplified by individuals of each nationality and race; besides which were to be inspected various interesting and curious arts and sciences as applied to civilized life. Midway, as it was popularly called, will, in the memory of many, outlast every other feature of the great exhibition. 3. A kind of lawn or gauze. "A count e e holding a clothe of pleas a unce ." - Har dyng: Supplement , fol. 78. *pleāş-an-çỹ, s. [Eng. pleas an (t); -cy.] Pleas antne . "The amenite and pleasancy of the place." Joye: Expo sic i on of Daniel , ch. iii.