Pleasantry

//ˈplɛzəntɹi// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A casual, courteous remark. countable, proscribed, sometimes, uncountable
  2. 2
    an agreeable or amusing remark wordnet
  3. 3
    A playful remark; a jest. countable, uncountable

    "Charlie Mulgrew could easily have been shown two yellow cards by a stricter referee and amid all the usual Anglo-Scottish pleasantries, the two sets of fans put an awful lot of effort into trying to drown out one another’s national anthems."

  4. 4
    Anything that promotes pleasure or merriment. countable, dated, uncountable

    "C.O.O: "The office was quite close to the home of our youth—" CHRM: "Thomas, your trip to Suitopia was not meant to be for pleasantries." C.O.O: "No… I know… But I was close by, so I went to visit them…" CHRM: "You should not have. You and I both know the way they are.""

Etymology

From pleasant + -ry, probably modelled on Middle French plaisanterie.

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