These words are used to refer to anything that the user finds interesting and satisfying. They are, as a group, words that are associated with mild pleasures and comforts rather than with intense feelings or passionate commitments. Pleasing and pleasant are, with one exception, the mildest of these words, referring to one’s positive response to a setting, person, idea or thing. The response, however, is not so deep that one would be unable to turn away without regret. Pleasant suggests something that is naturally appealing because of its cheerful exterior or warm disposition. Pleasing may suggest, beyond this implication, a conscious attempt to please: a pleasant view of the harbour; a pleasing waitress. When pleasing does not refer to such a conscious attempt, it is nevertheless slightly stronger than pleasant in suggesting something more able to hold the attention or more satisfying. Also, pleasant may refer more to mood, and pleasing to comeliness: a pleasing figure; a pleasant smile. Nice is milder than either of the foregoing and can, of cause, refer to any kind of positive response whatsoever. Having no connotations of its own, it is susceptible to any implications context may give it.

Agreeable , where it goes beyond pleasing , suggests something especially in harmony with the wishes of the beholder: an agreeable afternoon chatting with friends; an agreeable city for an art lover to be stranded in. Attractive and engaging are stronger than either agreeable and pleasing in suggesting something that draws or holds one’s attention. Attractive stresses comeliness that draws attention; engaging suggests liveliness or some other appeal that makes it difficult to turn away from: a woman who chose her clothes to set off her attractive figure; valued at parties because he was such an engaging conversationalist.

Enjoyable and gratifying stress actual satisfaction rather than the ability to draw or hold attention. Enjoyable is of a mildness comparable to pleasing , but gratifying suggests a greater intensity of pleasure than any other word here.

• The musical comedy sounded attractive enough to make us risk a visit, but while some of the numbers were enjoyable and a few of them actually engaging , the whole evening was far from gratifying .

The special force of gratifying lies in its suggestion that something has answered a deeper expectation or need; in this sense the word is an intensification of agreeable ; a truly gratifying friendship based on many long, agreeable talks.