plac-, placi-, -plais

He labors in vain who strives to please everyone.

You can not please the entire world.

Characteristic of being opposed to someone or something in a very angry or determined way that can't be changed: The politician had an implacable hatred for his opponents.

Usually people who are implacable can't be soothed or satisfied and they refuse to change their behaviors or opinions.

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It does not please; [It is] unpleasing.

1. A formal way of indicating dissent or another way of saying, "Nay."

2. The term used for expressing a negative vote, especially by the governing body of a university.

1. To make a person less angry, upset, or hostile; usually, by doing or saying something to please him or her: Because his wife was so dismayed at him coming home so late from work, Greg tried to placate her by promising to treat her to a nice restaurant tomorrow evening.
2. To calm down and to make less angry; especially, by appeasement; to conciliate; to pacify: The administrators placated the customers by agreeing to consider a reduction in prices for the items when they became available again.

The clerk was placating the angry customer with an apology and a new replacement for the damaged item that was returned.

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Someone who calms or brings peace to another person who is disturbed or angry.

1. In medicine, a prescription given to please a patient who, in the physician's opinion, needs no medication: The placebo is any false treatment; for example, in a controlled clinical trial, one group may be given a real antibacterial drug while another group is given a placebo that looks just like it in order to learn if the differences observed are due to the drug or to the power of mental suggestion.
2. Something of no inherent benefit that is done, or said, simply to placate or to reassure someone that he or she is getting proper treatment: A placebo is given for the positive psychological effect it may have because the patient believes that he or she is receiving real medical attention.
3. Etymology: from Latin placebo, "I shall please"; future indicative of placere, "to please".

The medical sense is first recorded in about 1785, "a medicine given more to please than to benefit the patient".

Editorial: "Patient, heal thyself"

• About the only medicine doctors from long ago could offer their patients was the reassurance that a medical treatment would work and it often was successful.
• It has become apparent that a patient's state of mind, awareness of his or her condition and expectations of the care she or he is about to receive can influence many outcomes of medicine from consultations with a doctor to clinical trials of a new drug.
• Apparently the usefulness of a drug, for example, depends on much more than the chemicals in a pill, and a deeper understanding of the result of a placebo can turn it into a valuable tool for reducing suffering.

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1. A reference to a condition, a place, or a person's mental state which is pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed: Caroline has an amazing placid attitude regarding the overwhelming responsibilities that she has as the person who is supervising her company's financial investments.
2. Etymology: from Latin placidus, "pleasing, gentle, calm" from placere, "to please". © ALL rights are reserved.

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Able to be provided as an official request in court: The appeal in court was pleadable and the judge decided to adjourn and return after lunch to present his decision.