Displeasance

/dɪsˈplɛzəns/ noun

Definition

The state or feeling of being displeased; dissatisfaction or offense taken at something.

Etymology

From Old French displaisance, combining dis- (opposite) and plaisance (pleasantness, from plaisir meaning to please). The suffix -ance creates a noun form. This word was common in Middle English but became largely replaced by 'displeasure.'

Kelly Says

Medieval writers loved '-ance' nouns like 'displeasance,' 'resonance,' and 'fragrance'—they sound fancier than simple alternatives, which is probably why kings and nobles preferred them in formal documents!

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