pease

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

• IPA^(key): /piːz/
• Rhymes: -iːz

pease (plural peasen)

1. (archaic) A pea.

• The original singular was pease, and the plural was peasen. Over the centuries, pease became used as the plural, peasen was dropped, pea was created as a new singular, and finally pease was respelled peas.

• pease porridge
• pease pudding

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

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.