the children smiled politely at the visitor's pleasantries.
word quiz
from what language do you think english took the word "pleasantry"?
a. greek
b. french
c. algonquian
d. malay
key
[b]
you're in for pleasant news if you picked choice b; french is the right answer! during various times in history, english speakers have considered the french to be the model of culture and refinement, and many english words about manners have french beginnings. "pleasantry" is derived from "plaisanterie," a french word meaning "a playful, pleasant manner," which entered english in the mid-1600s. the word "manner" also has french origins: it came into english via the old french "maniere," meaning "way of acting." "etiquette," the word for good manners and taste, is another example. it came into english directly from french in the 1700s.
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