pleasures

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of pleasure.

   He counted long walks and good books among his chief pleasures.

   The novel lingers on the fleeting pleasures of a summer abroad.

   Note

   Only one kind of pleasure has a plural: the countable thing or activity that gives enjoyment, as in his chief pleasures. The uncountable uses stay singular. These are contentment itself, sexual enjoyment, one's preference, and the formal will of someone in power, so "at your pleasure" never becomes "at your pleasures." The same spelling also serves the verb meaning 'gives pleasure to'.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of pleasure.

   Good music pleasures the soul after a long and tiring day.

   It pleasures the old gardener to see his roses bloom each spring.

   Note

   In current use the verb takes a direct object: music pleasures the soul, the sight pleasures the gardener. Because the verb also has a sexual sense, "she pleasures him" can be read that way, and pleases avoids the ambiguity when the innocent meaning is wanted. An intransitive use meaning "takes pleasure" or "seeks pleasure" also exists, but it is dated and sounds old-fashioned today.

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