pleasant

Etymology

From Middle English plesaunte, from Old French plaisant. Present participle of English please. Related to Dutch plezant (“full of fun or pleasure”). Partly displaced Old English wynsum, which became Modern English winsome.

adj

1. Giving pleasure; pleasing in manner.
   We had a pleasant walk around the town.
   It wasn't so hot outside, but pleasant enough to have lunch in the garden.
   […] If you pray to St. Anne before twelve o’clock on a Wednesday, you’ll get a pleasant surprise before the end of the week. 1989, Hilary Mantel, chapter 2, in Fludd, New York: Henry Holt, published 2000, page 25
2. (obsolete) Facetious, joking.
   […] I present you here with a merrie conceited Comedie, called the Shoomakers Holyday, acted by my Lorde Admiralls Players this present Christmasse, before the Queenes most excellent Maiestie. For the mirth and pleasant matter, by her Highnesse graciously accepted; being indeede no way offensiue. 1600, Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker’s Holiday, London: Dedication

noun

1. (obsolete) A wit; a humorist; a buffoon.
   […] Galba was no better than one of the buffons or pleasants that professe to make folke merry and to laugh. 1603, Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, commonlie called the Morals written by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea, London, page 1144
   1696, uncredited translator, The General History of the Quakers by Gerard Croese, London: John Dunton, Book 2, p. 96, Yea, in the Courts of Kings and Princes, their Fools, and Pleasants, which they kept to relax them from grief and pensiveness, could not show themselves more dexterously ridiculous, than by representing the Quakers, or aping the motions of their mouth, voice, gesture, and countenance: