wellpleasing

Wellpleasing is an adjective used to describe something that is pleasing in a good or proper way, or something that is acceptable or pleasing to someone, particularly to a deity in religious contexts. In modern English, the form is usually written with a hyphen as well-pleasing; the closed form wellpleasing is rare and typically found only in older texts or lexicographic entries.

Etymology and usage history: the term combines the adverb well with the present participle pleasing. It appears chiefly in early modern English and in translations of religious writings, where it conveys the sense of being acceptable or pleasing in the sight of God or a superior authority. In contemporary secular prose, the compound is largely literary or historical and is not part of standard everyday usage.

Current usage and interpretation: today, well-pleasing tends to be confined to religious, ceremonial, or historical contexts. In everyday writing, speakers would usually say “acceptable,” “pleasing,” or “to God’s will,” depending on the sense intended. The term often carries a moral or theological nuance, indicating alignment with expected norms or divine approval rather than mere aesthetic appeal.

Variants and related terms: hyphenated well-pleasing is the common modern form; wellpleasing appears infrequently and is considered nonstandard by many style guides. Related concepts include pleasing, acceptable, and God-pleasing, which share the sense of approval by an authority or standard.