How do you pronounce pleasantly?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈplɛzəntli/.

Where does pleasantly come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

pleasantly

/ˈplɛzəntli/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.35 in modern English

Syllables: pleas-ant-ly
IPA: /ˈplɛzəntli/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

In a pleasant manner; so as to achieve a pleasant result.

adv

Lightly

adv

Ludicrously; facetiously.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"He smiled pleasantly at passersby."
"They were pleasantly surprised at the result."
"In workhouses, pleasantly so named, because work cannot be done in them."
"Mr Venus, reminded of the duties of hospitality, produced some rum. In answer to the inquiry, 'Will you mix it, Mr Wegg?' that gentleman pleasantly rejoined, 'I think not, sir. On so auspicious an occasion, I prefer to take it in the form of a Gum-Tickler.'"

Etymology

From Middle English pleasauntly; equivalent to pleasant + -ly.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: pleasauntly
Suffix: pleasant

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more pleasantly (comparative) most pleasantly (superlative) pleasauntlie (alternative) plesantlie (alternative) pleasauntly (alternative) plesantly (alternative) plesauntly (alternative)

Synonyms

agreeably enjoyably cheerily sunnily

Rhymes With

presently unpleasantly