Polite conversation or remarks made for social reasons rather than meaningful communication; light, agreeable talk.
From 'pleasant' plus the suffix '-ry', first recorded in the 17th century. 'Pleasant' comes from Old French 'plaisant', from 'plaisir' (to please), ultimately from Latin 'placere' (to please).
Pleasantries serve a crucial social function - they're not meaningless chatter but rather a form of social grooming that establishes goodwill and confirms relationships. Anthropologists note that these ritualized exchanges exist in every culture, though their specific forms vary widely.
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