if you please

Etymology
The construction is unusual since the infinitive originally meant only “to satisfy”, not “to be satisfied”. One solution entails interpreting as an object pronoun and  as a verb in the third-person singular subjunctive, such that  actually meant. The according constructions, , , etc., are indeed attestable. However, if this approach is correct, the reinterpretation of the pronoun as the subject of the phrase must be very old as we also find and so on. A second hypothesis construes "if you please" as an intransitive, ergative form taken from which is a. Alternatively, if you please may be a bastardization of if you'd please, which is an abbreviation of if you would please be so kind, wherein constitutes an adverb, not a verb.

Phrase

 * 1)  please
 * 2) * 1906, Edith Nesbit, The Railway Children, Chapter 4: The engine-burglar,
 * The engine-driver and fireman did not see her. They were leaning out on the other side, telling the Porter a tale about a dog and a leg of mutton.
 * "If you please," said Roberta--but the engine was blowing off steam and no one heard her.
 * "If you please, Mr. Engineer," she spoke a little louder, but the Engine happened to speak at the same moment, and of course Roberta's soft little voice hadn't a chance.

Translations

 * Danish: om du vil være så venlig
 * Hungarian: (szíves) engedelmével/engedelmeddel
 * Latin: sī vultis, sultis, sī vīs sōdēs