late 14c., plesaunte (early 14c. as a surname), "pleasing or acceptable to God;" also "agreeable, desirable; delightful, delicious; satisfying to the mind or senses;" of persons, "charming, gracious," from Old French plaisant "pleasant, pleasing, agreeable" (12c.), present participle of plaisir "to please, give pleasure to, satisfy," from Latin placere "to be acceptable, be liked, be approved" (see please).

The earliest known use of the word pleasant is in the Middle English period (1150—1500). OED's earliest evidence for pleasant is from around 1350, in Psalter. pleasant is a borrowing from French.