placet

Placet is a Latin verb meaning “it pleases” or “it seems good.” It is the third-person singular present indicative active form of placere, the verb classically translated as “to please.” In classical Latin, placet is often used impersonally to express approval, consent, or permission, and it appears in official or formal statements indicating that a decision or measure is deemed acceptable.

Etymology and grammar: The word derives from the Latin placere. As an impersonal construction, placet can be used to report that something is deemed appropriate by a person or body, without requiring a specific subject. In inscriptions, decrees, and legal documents, placet functions as a concise assertion of approval or authorization.

Historical usage: In medieval and early modern Europe, the notion of permission or approval granted by a sovereign or higher authority was often described in Latin as “the king’s placet” or simply by the phrase placet. Charters, appointments, and legal permissions frequently depended on such royal or papal approval, a concept comparable to modern notions of royal assent or formal authorization.

Modern usage: Today, placet survives primarily in historical discussions and in Latin phrases found in legal or ceremonial contexts. It is not active vocabulary in contemporary English except as a scholarly or antiquarian reference to permissions granted by a ruler or authority. In modern texts, the concept is usually described using terms such as “royal assent,” “approval,” or “authorization,” rather than the Latin verb itself.

See also: placere, royal assent, royal placet, charter, charter language, historical Latin.