facile
Contents
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Middle French facile, from Latin facilis (“easy to do, easy, doable”), from faciō (“I do, make”). Compare Spanish fácil ("easy").
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
facile (comparative more facile, superlative most facile)
- Easy, now especially in a disparaging sense; contemptibly easy. [from 15th c.]
- 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, Oxford: Printed by Iohn Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 216894069:, vol.I, New York, 2001, p.243:
- as he that is benumbed with cold sits shaking, that might relieve himself with a little exercise or stirring, do they complain, but will not use the facile and ready means to do themselves good […].
- 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, Oxford: Printed by Iohn Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 216894069:, vol.I, New York, 2001, p.243:
- (now rare) Amiable, flexible, easy to get along with. [from 16th c.]
- His facile disposition made him many friends.
- Effortless, fluent (of work, abilities etc.). [from 17th c.]
- 1932, Duff Cooper, Talleyrand, Folio Society 2010, p. 54:
- we can learn the impression that he made upon a stranger and a foreigner at this period, thanks to the facile pen of Fannu Burney.
- 1974, Graham Greene, The Honorary Consul, Pocket Books, New York, p.54:
- "Discipline," Jorge Julio Saavedra was repeating, "is more necessary to me than to other more facile writers.
- 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society 2010, p. 372:
- A facile and persuasive writer, he also turned out countless newspaper articles on Russian aims in Central Asia and how best these could be thwarted.
- 1932, Duff Cooper, Talleyrand, Folio Society 2010, p. 54:
- Lazy, simplistic (especially of explanations, discussions etc.). [from 19th c.]
- 2012, Chris Huhne, The Guardian, 3 May 2012:
- There is a facile view that our green commitments – to tackling climate change, avoiding air and water pollution, protecting natural habitats – are an obstacle to growth. The message of the commodity markets is surely different.
- 2012, Chris Huhne, The Guardian, 3 May 2012:
- (chemistry) Of a reaction or other process, taking place readily.
- Decarboxylation of beta-keto acids is facile...
SynonymsEdit
- (skillful): See also Wikisaurus:skillful
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
Easy, taking minimal effort
Further readingEdit
- facile in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- facile in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- facile at OneLook Dictionary Search
AnagramsEdit
EsperantoEdit
FrenchEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Latin facilis (“easy”), from faciō (“I do, make”).
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
facile (plural faciles)
AntonymsEdit
AnagramsEdit
Further readingEdit
- “facile” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
InterlinguaEdit
ItalianEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Latin facilis (“easy”), from faciō (“I do, make”).
PronunciationEdit
AdjectiveEdit
facile (masculine and feminine plural facili)
Related termsEdit
AnagramsEdit
LatinEdit
AdverbEdit
facile (comparative facilius, superlative facillimē)
SynonymsEdit
ReferencesEdit
- facile in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- facile in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- Carl Meissner; Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book[1], London: Macmillan and Co.
- an easy, fluent style: expedita et facile currens oratio
- that is self-evident, goes without saying: hoc facile intellegi potest
- an easy, fluent style: expedita et facile currens oratio