pease

See also: Pease

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English pese (“pea”), from Old English pise (“pea”), from Late Latin pisa, variant of Latin pisum (“pea”), from Ancient Greek πίσον (píson), variant of πίσος (písos).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /piːz/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːz

Noun

pease (plural peasen)

1. (archaic) Alternative form of pea (“common plant; its edible seed”)

Usage notes

• The original singular was pease (meaning “a pea”), and the plural was peasen. Because of the final [z]-sound, the singular then came to be reinterpreted as a plural form, leading to the backformation of a new singular pea.

Related terms

• pease porridge
• pease pudding
• split pease

Etymology 2

From Anglo-Norman paiser, pesser et al., Old French paisier, aphetic form of apaisier (“to appease”). Probably also partly from aphetic use of appease.

Verb

pease (third-person singular simple present peases, present participle peasing, simple past and past participle peased)

1. (obsolete) To make peace between (conflicting people, states etc.); to reconcile.
2. (obsolete) To bring (a war, conflict) to an end.
3. (obsolete) To placate, appease (someone).
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Matthew XXVIII:

     And yf this come to the rulers eares, we wyll pease him, and make you safe.