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plesser2 (c.1135)

The form plaissier is a cross reference to the following entry:

plesser2 (c.1135)

plaisier,  plaissier;  pleiser,  pleisier,  pleisir,  pleisser,  pleissier,  pleissir;  pleser  
  FEW: Gdf: GdfC: TL: DEAF: DMF: TLF: OED: MED: DMLBS:  plectere 2 2315c

While all other dictionaries interpret the senses in plesser2 as figurative meanings of plesser1 (‘to bend (as one does to weave)’), the existence of a second, identical Latin etymon, plectere 2, with the meaning ‘to beat; to strike; to punish’ suggests that plesser2 should be considered a separate word.

v.trans.

1to knock, strike, buffet
( c.1136-37; MS: s.xiiex )  sages fud e bon guerier, Bien sot ses enemis pleisier  GAIMAR1 3442
( 1190-93; MS: s.xiv1 )  tost la presse derumpi; [...] A terre trestuiz les pleisa; Veie se fist [...]  S Edm Life ANTS 4557
( 1273-82; MS: s.xivex )  Purquei entras en la mellee Vers amor qui t'a si plesse[e]  Ross ANTS 1743
to knock over, spill
( MS: s.xivin )  ens qe de grape plese vin sou la nape, covint que il seit defolé, coulé e reposé  Anecdota 10.n29
2 to push down
( c.1135; MS: 1267-68 )  Dont l’a la virge as cevels pris Et contre terre l'a jus mis; A la terre l'a jus plaisié, Sor son chief mist son destre pié  S Marg wace 29.377 (A)
to suppress, subdue, overpower
( 1155; MS: s.xiii4/4 )  Contes e reis, quant tu (=fortune) vuels, plaisses Que tu nule rien ne lur laisses  Brut WACE 1929
( c.1150; MS: s.xiii3/4 )  Si plaissa la tormente tuz Ne valeit guerez li plus pruz  S Nichol wace 241
to defeat, conquer
( 1155; MS: s.xiii4/4 )  Belin e Brennes fort s'iraissent De ces Romains ki si les plaissent, Lur gent craventent e abatent, Botent, fierent, ocient, matent  Brut WACE 3108
( 1163-70; MS: s.xiii2 )  force lur duinst de plaissier Toz ceos kis pensent guerrier  S Edw barking 5005
( MS: s.xiiim )  Crist vint umbles eshaucer, e il (=Antichrist) les plesserat  Antecrist 8
3to spoil, ruin
( s.xii4/4; MS: s.xii4/4 )  Unkes ne furent entamé [...] Ne lur bele culur plaissié  S Cath barking 1177

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This is an AND2 Phase 4 (N-O/U-P-Q) entry. © 2013-17 The Anglo-Norman Dictionary. All rights reserved. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom.
plaissier