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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PLEASE, v., n. Also pleese (Sc. 1825 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1863) I. 54, plaise (Mry. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (25 Sept.) 3), plaze (Bnff. 1915 W. S. Bruce Nor' East 63). See P.L.D. § 142. (3).

I. v. 1. As in Eng. Phr. please and . . . , be so kind as to, will you please?Inv. 1716 Steuart Letter-Bk. (S.H.S.) 36:
Please and forward the inclosed for Hamburg, by which you see I have writ pressing to have you in Cash for My Acct.Ork. 1952 R .T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 98:
"Plaze theesel," replied Audrey coldly. "I hopp thoo enchoy id. A'm gaun in tae get me supper an' go tae me bed."

†2. tr. To like, approve of, be pleased or satisfied with.Sc. 1716 West-Country Intelligence (21 Jan.) 12:
The Highland Men did not please his Aspect, which is but Meagre and grim, telling that he be not their King, nor a ponny King.Sc. 1719 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) II. 470, III. 53:
I please what you term the demy (paper), but I think it's thin . . . Mr. Wilson did not please the sentence.

3. intr. and absol., with passive force and gen. with negative: to experience satisfaction, be pleased, show contentment (ne.Sc. 1966).wm.Sc. 1878 Folk-Lore Record I. 235:
He frettit aye an' wadna please.

II. n. 1. In phr. (nae) to hae a please, to be (in)capable of being pleased, to be perpetually dissatisfied or disgruntled (ne.Sc., Ags. 1966). Also there's no a please in —, id. (Ags. 1966).Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 37:
I thought I'd please ye gin ye had a please.Bnff. 1847 A. Cumming Tales 93:
Ye haena a please.Bnff. 1893 G. G. Green Kidnappers x.:
Ah'm gettin' some tir't o' the maister's snappy wyes . . . He hisna a please, dee fat Ah may.Abd. 1920 G. P. Dunbar Peat Reek 8:
He wis a girnin' deevil, faith, an' never hed a please.