pleat

and v. See plait. pleb (pleb), n. [L. plebs: see plebe.] One of the common people; a plebeian; a low-born person. The muggur [broad-snouted crocodile] is a gro pleb , and his features stamp him lowborn. P. Robinson , Under the Sun, p. 78. James Herries (Child's Ballads, I. 209). plebe (plēb), n. [OF. plebe = Sp. Pg. It. plebe , 4. A favor; gratification. Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure , left Paul bound. Acts xxiv. 27. He [Domitian] would have done us some pleasure in driving away those flies. Coryat, Crudities, I. 151. 5. Will; desire; preference, or whatever one chooses, desires, or wills: as, it is my pleasure to remain. My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure . Isa. xlvi. 10. It is his worship's pleasure , sir, to bail you. Middle ton ( and others ), The Widow, ii. 2. Cannot a man of fashion, for his pleasure , put on, now and then, his working-day robes of humility, but he must presently be subject to a beadle's rod of correction? Dekker and Ford , Sun's Darling, i. 1. IMG:content-0400.png:[blocks in formation] The plebes of the last fall had pa ed through squad and company drill, and the battalion was now proficient in the most intricate manœuvre. The Century , XXXVII. 464. plebeian (plē-bē'an), a . and n . [ plebeien , F. plébéien , extended with suffix -en , E. -an (cf. Sp. plebeyo Pg. plebeo = It. plebeo , plebejo , pleThere is a prerogative of God and an arbitrary pleasure beian), plebeius , of or belonging to the com above the letter of his own law. Sir T. Browne , Religio Medici, i. 57. At pleasure, as or whenever one pleases: as, an officer removable at pleasure . Here are many Tortoises, and abundance of all sorts of foules, whose young ones we tooke and eate at our plea Quoted in Capt. John Smith's Works, I. 107. But if love be so dear to thee, thou hast a chamber-sted Which Vulcan purposely contriu'd with all fit secrecie; There sleepe at pleasure. Chapman, liad, xiv. 288. Brooke , Fool of Quality, I. 2. ( Davies .) By feeling is meant any state of consciousne which is pleasurable or painful. J. Sully, Outlines of Psychol., p. 449. Positive pleasure. See positive. To take pleasure in, to have satisfaction or enjoyment in; regard with approbation or favor. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him. Ps. cxlvii. 11. Syn. 1. Joy, Delight , etc. (see gladne ), satisfaction, comfort, solace. 2. Self-indulgence; luxury, sensuality, voluptuousne .-4. Kindne . sure. [Rare.] A person of his pleasurable turn and active spirit could never have submitted to take long or great pains in attaining the qualifications he is master of. Richardson, Clari a Harlowe, I. xii. ( Davies .) I think we are a reasonable, but by no means a pleasur able people; and to mend us we must have a dash of the French and Italian; yet I don't know how. Gray, Letters, I. 126. pleasurablene (plezh'ūr-a-bl-nes), n. The quality of being pleasurable or of giving pleasure: as, the pleasurablene of the benevolent emotions. Able to discern the fraud and fained pleasurablene of the bad. Feltham , Resolves, ii. 61. The Sensations that have been considered have no inherent quality of pleasurablene or painfulne . Mind , IX. 339. sured, ppr. pleasuring. [ I count it one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman. Shak ., T. of A., iii. 2. 63. Silvius doth shew the citty dames brave sights, And they for that doe pleasure him a nightes. Times' Whistle (E. E. T. S.), p. 90. You're in the happiest way t' enrich yourself And pleasure me. Middle ton , Chaste Maid, iii. 3. would do no man wrong with pleasuring his friends; nor yet would anger them by denying their requests. North , tr. of Plutarch, p. 273. Aristides The Birds rural Musick too Is as melodious and free As if they sung to pleasure you. mon people, Distinguishing the senator's garded robe From a plebeian habit. Mas singer , Believe as you List, i. 2. Words worth...confounded plebeian modes of thought with rustic forms of phrase, and then atoned for his blunder by absconding into a diction more Latinized than that of any poet of his century. Lowell , Among my Books, 1st ser., p. 156. 2. Belonging to the lower ranks. He through the midst unmark'd, In show plebeian angel militant Of lowest order, pa 'd. Milton , P. L., x. 442. II. n. One of the common people or lower ranks: first applied to the common people of ancient Rome, comprising those free citizens who were not descended from the original or patrician families. See plebs . They haue no gentlemen, but euery man is a Plebeian vntill his merits raise him. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 438. The word plebeian , in its strict sense, is no more contemptuous than the word commoner in England. Encyc . Brit ., XVII. 526. plebeianism (plē-bēʼan-izm), n. [ Thor himself engages in all manner of rough manual work, scorns no busine for its plebeianism . Carlyle . Cowley, The Mistre , Spring. plebeianize (plē-bēʼan-īz), v. t.; pret. and pp. Tost his ball and flown his kite and roll'd His hoop, to pleasure Edith. Tennyson, Aylmer's Field. IMG:content-0401.png:[blocks in formation] (E. E. T. S.), 1. 3471. IMG:content-0402.png:[blocks in formation] plebeianized, ppr. plebeianizing. [ plebicolist (ple-bik'ō-list), n. [ plebification (pleb i-fi-ka's hon), n. [L. the common people, + -ficatio ( n- ), You begin with the attempt to popularize learning and philosophy; but you will end in the plebification of know Cole ridge. ledge. What is practically meant by the plebification of opinion, as a danger to be dreaded, is, when put in its extremest form, the tyranny of unintelligent or half intelligent mobs. H. N. Oxenham, Short Studies, p. 127. plebify (pleb'i-fi), v. t.; pret. and pp. plebified, ppr. plebifying. [L. plebs, the common people, + -ficare, make: see -fy.] To make plebeian; bring into accord with plebeian ideals or methods. Cole ridge.