facileadj.adv.

Brit.

/ˈfasʌɪl/, U.S.

/ˈfæs(ə)l/

Forms: late Middle English–1500s facyle, late Middle English–1500s facylle, late Middle English– facile, 1500s–1700s facil, 1500s–1700s facill, 1600s facille; Scottish pre-1700 faccell, pre-1700 facell, pre-1700 facil, pre-1700 facill, pre-1700 facyl, pre-1700 facyll, pre-1700 fasill, pre-1700 1700s– facile.

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French facile; Latin facilis.

Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman and Middle French facile (French facile ) easy, straightforward (c1440 in Anglo-Norman and Middle French), ready, willing (1559), productive, creative (1613), weak, soft, idiotic (17th cent.), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin facilis easy to do, straightforward, involving no difficulties, easily obtained, easy to bear, prone, ready, quick, indulgent, accommodating, propitious, favourable, tame, tractable, nimble, agile, skilful, free, liberal, (of speech) unforced, natural, in post-classical Latin also easy to comprehend or answer (from 8th cent. in British sources), easily uttered, fluent (13th cent. in British sources) < facere to do (see fact n.) + -ilis -il suffix. Compare Occitan facile, Catalan fàcil (14th cent.), Spanish fácil (1490; 1438 as fácile), Portuguese fácil (1516), Italian facile (a1342).

A. adj.

a. That can be achieved with little effort; straightforward, easy. In later use frequently in disparaging sense: contemptibly easy. Formerly often used predicatively with infinitive, and in phrases with easy.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > easy to do or accomplish

eathlyc1000

lightOE

eathc1175

easyc1380

facile1484

good1490

easy (also simple, etc.) as pie1890

untroublesome1894

potty1899

sitting1932

cake1968

slow-pitch1981

renable1995

1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope 97 It is facyle to scape out of the handes of the blynd.

a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 89 As the one ys ful of hardnes & dyffyculty..so the other ys facyle & esy.

1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 449/1 in Chron. I They..thought it easie and facile to bee concluded.

1641 W. Prynne Antipathie Ep. Ded. sig. ¶4 I gathered with no facil labour, the most of those Materials.

1678 J. Worlidge Vinetum Britannicum (ed. 2) 239 The more facile making of the Linnen Manufacture.

a1708 W. Beveridge Serm. xci. in Wks. (1729) II. 126 All other acts of piety will be facile and easy to him.

1734 S. Tipping Moral & Christian Benevolence 4 Conformity..will be rendered more easy and facile to a Person of a soft and sweet Complexion.

1800 C. Lamb Let. 3 Nov. in Lett. C & M. A. Lamb (1975) I. 244 I could not resist so facile & moderate demand, so scribbled out another, omitting Sundry things.

1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. I. 357 Having won, as he supposed, his facile victory.

1876 C. M. Davies Unorthodox London (rev. ed.) 250 The work appears facile.

1900 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 470/2 The English drawing master did not teach art, but facile tricks of the brush.

1954 E. Lyons Our Secret Allies iii. 53 Already the Kremlin has won too many facile victories, at home and in the international arena.

1986 Times (Nexis) 6 May Stuart Dickin had a facile win..in the restricted open..and he will now go for the Massey Ferguson Novice Final.

2004 J. Duke Women of Year 163/1 Her facile victory convinced Lukas and Klein to test her against males in the Metropolitan Handicap nine days later.

b. Of instructions, a device, etc.: easy to understand or to make use of; simple.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > [adjective]

understandinga1382

sensiblea1393

knowablea1425

perceivablec1443

takablec1449

understandablec1475

intendible1489

intentiblea1492

intelligible1509

facile1531

level1559

discernable1561

receptible1574

intendable?1577

excogitable1592

penetrable1594

comprehensible1598

scrutablec1604

distinguishable1611

discernible1616

perviousa1631

fathomable1633

cognoscible1648

colligible1650

determinable1658

intelligent1676

cognizable1681

apprehensive1692

susceptible1694

tangible1709

apprehensible1715

pronounced1728

comprehendible1814

graspable1818

prehensiblea1832

prononcé1838

possible1864

receivable1865

unsmothered1891

readable1908

discriminable1946

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > clearness, lucidity > [adjective]

sutelc897

openeOE

plaina1398

sada1400

familiar1509

facile1531

lightsome1532

well-determined1560

pervial1595

uncurious1601

articulate1603

distinct1609

unmisinterpretablea1631

dilucida1640

limpid1649

dilucidate1651

unmysterious1663

incurious1664

elucidatea1670

accessible1681

distinguished1700

dilucidated1759

unmistakable1822

black and white1838

clear-cut1843

square on1963

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > easy to make use of

facile1678

user-friendly1981

1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. v. sig. Ciii As touchynge grammere, there is at this day better introductions, and more facile, than euer before were made.

1579 L. Digges & T. Digges Stratioticos ii. vii. 47 We have by the former Rules produced this playne and facile Aequation.

1633 Sc. Acts Chas. I c. 34 The short and facile grammer.

1644 J. Milton Of Educ. 5 Those Poets which are now counted most hard, will be both facil and pleasant.

1678 J. Worlidge Vinetum Britannicum (ed. 2) 105 To make this Curious Machine more useful and facile.

1786 T. Woolston Let. in D. Fenning Young Algebraists' Compan. (1787) p. v It having been long considered as a most facile Introduction to Algebra.

1797 A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl II. x. 182 The harp and the piano forte were equally facile to Rosa.

1854 E. Longley Amer. Man. Phonogr. 9 Phonography..presents to the world an alphabet of letters so simple and facile that he who uses it must readily keep pace with the fastest speaker.

1900 Atlantic Monthly Mar. 367/1 It is not likely..that the modern innovators will be able to corrupt permanently the French language, so clear, facile, and solidly constructed.

1932 Q. Rev. Biol. 7 249/2 A simple and facile introduction to statistical methods.

2005 Focus (Nexis) 22 Mar. 50 [The book] appears to be appropriate for guiding students through the nuances of blood gas while providing experienced clinicians with a facile guide for occasional reference.

c. Of a course of action, a method, etc.: presenting few difficulties.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective]

lightlyOE

eatha1225

easyc1380

tenderc1400

lightsome1440

rife1557

facile1559

eefe1578

problemless1911

easy-breezy1948

without tears1962

1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 109 The waye is very facile, and without great laboure.

1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 193 Yet haue they found out this facile & ready course.

1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. ii. 112 His Holinesse hath a facile and cheap way both to gratifie and engage ambitious spirits.

a1718 W. Penn Tracts in Wks. (1726) I. 703 It will render the Magistrates Province more facil.

1736 S.-Carolina Gaz. 10 Jan. 3/1 David Delescure Reader of the French Church, teaches French and English in a facil and easy Method, either at home or abroad.

1808 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Devon Concl. 463 Baiting..in the manner performed on the continent, is an infinitely more economical and facile mode of administering refreshment to a jaded animal.

1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. ix. 271 The facile modes of measurement which we now employ.

1903 Econ. Jrnl. 13 501 This expedient may prove the most facile means of meeting a financial difficulty.

1937 J. Marquand Thank you, Mr. Moto xx. 162 I once had possessed the reputation of being a good negotiator, and of having a facile way of reconciling disputes between contending parties.

1978 Southern Econ. Jrnl. 44 827 The use of inflation as a tax has become a facile means for financing deficits.

2000 San Diego Union-Tribune (Nexis) 9 May (Computer Link section) 5 There's no doubting the effectiveness of this painless, facile strategy for helping the hungry.

d. depreciative. Esp. of an explanation, doctrine, etc.: superficial, simplistic, glib; without depth.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > insubstantial

thin?c1225

lighta1413

superficiala1425

sleevelessc1450

frivolous1549

frothy1593

windy1593

shallow1594

airy1600

ghostlessa1603

sleazy1648

tenuious1656

wishy-washy1693

gauzy1774

lathery1803

wish-washy1814

tenuousa1817

toy1821

flimsy1827

airy-fairy1857

facile1857

feeblish1882

popcorn1973

1857 N.Y. Times 17 Oct. 4/3 We must not suffer ourselves to be too easily led off into a Tariff crusade through the facile explanation which some economists profess to have found of our commercial stagnation.

1863 Daily News 8 Jan. 4/3 Their facile suggestions assume that we may send our worst and most incorrigible convicts to any part of it [sc. Australia].

1930 Notes & Queries 159 272/2 Rather a simpliste, facile doctrine perhaps.

1956 V. Gordon Childe Piecing together Past viii. 153 A much profounder study of the cultures concerned than is demanded for facile migrationist interpretations.

2006 Time Out N.Y. 17 Aug. 103/2 The films' blend of Eurosleaze exploitation and existentialism can seem facile.

†a. Easily led or influenced; flexible, compliant, yielding. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > subjection > obedience > manageability > [adjective] > tractable > easily

softc1275

facilea1530

a1530 T. Elyot tr. Plutarch Educ. Children (?1532) iii. sig. Biii That very yonge age is tender and facile to be wrought: & lernynge is beste instylled and brought in wittes, whiles they be softe and delycate.

1556 W. Lauder Compend. Tractate Dewtie of Kyngis sig. B2^v Be nocht ouir facill for to trow Quhill that ȝe try, the mater throw.

c1610 J. Melville Mem. Own Life (1683) 103 Facil Princes..promote them [sc. Flatterers] above faithful Friends.

1661 tr. J. Colet Serm. Conform. & Reform. ii. 18 Those canons..that do warn you..not to be too facile in admitting into holy Orders.

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 51 Adam and his facil consort Eve Lost Paradise.

1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) xvii. cxcvii. 269 Alas, That facil Hearts should to themselves be foes.

1744 C. Morris Ess. fixing True Standards Wit Introd. p. ix Men of facile or versatile Manners; who can easily turn themselves to all Things.

1805 J. Foster Ess. ii. vi. 192 The tame security of facile friendly coincidence.

1866 E. A. Pollard Lost Cause 101 His honesty was rather that facile disposition that readily took impressions from whatever was urged on it.

b. Chiefly Scots Law. Weak-minded, gullible; simple-minded. Frequently in weak and (also or) facile.

ΚΠ

1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. i. ix. 94 Extortion was found relevant to reduce a Disposition, by a facile weak person, who..subscribed a Disposition of his whole Estate, for a cause not near the third of its value.

1754 J. Erskine Princ. Law Scotl. II. iv. i. 423 Where a person of weak or facile temper executes a deed in itself irrational, the most slender circumstances of fraud on the part of the receiver, will be laid hold of.

1772 C. Forbes Information against J. Earl 6 Alexander Forbes being a facile weak man, it was thought a proper measure, that he should execute a disposition of his estate in favour of Donald and John Cattanachs.

1861 G. Ross W. Bell's Dict. Law Scotl. (rev. ed.) 376/1 A person is said to be of a facile disposition, when, although not a fit subject for cognition as an idiot, he is easily imposed upon and liable..to do deeds to his own prejudice.

1887 Grierson Dickson's Tract. Evidence §35 Proof that the granter of a deed was naturally weak and facile..has been held to reflect the burden of proving that [etc.].

1939 Faculty Digest Suppl. (1939–40) 314 His mental grasp was feeble, he was weak and facile, and he did not understand the purposes and effect of what he was doing.

2000 R. Zimmermann & S. Whittaker Good Faith in European Contract Law 278 The onus is on Paul to establish that when he entered into the contract, he was in a weak or facile state of mind.

3. Of a person or his or her attributes.

†a. Not harsh or severe; gentle, lenient, mild. Also with to and infinitive. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > [adjective]

stillc825

tamec888

nesheOE

mildeOE

softOE

lithea1000

daftc1000

methefulOE

sefteOE

meekc1175

benign1377

pleasablea1382

mytha1400

tendera1400

unfelona1400

mansuetea1425

meeta1425

gentlec1450

moy1487

placablea1522

facile1539

effeminate1594

silver1596

mildya1603

unmalicious1605

uncruel1611

maliceless1614

tender-hefteda1616

unpersecutive1664

baby-milda1845

rose water1855

turtlish1855

unvindictive1857

soft-boiled1859

tenderful1901

soft-lining1967

1539 R. Taverner Garden of Wysdom sig. E.v Omyttynge his former seueritie and rowghnes, he shewed hym selfe gentle and facyle, to such as loued to waxe ryche with the detryment of the comon wealth.

1541 T. Elyot Image of Gouernance xxxvii. f. 88 Your proper nature is mylde, facile, gentyll, and wytty.

1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 116 She was of a more facile and better inclined disposition.

1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. v. 228 Q. Elizabeth..A Princesse most facil to forgive injuries.

1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. v. 197 However he were facil to his Son, and seditious Nobles..yet his Queen he treated not the less honourably.

1851 F. Palgrave Hist. Normandy & Eng. I. 297 The guilty sons were too happy to avail themselves of his facile tenderness.

1887 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 295/1 The gentle and facile writer, whom simple minds love, but who has no more claim to the rank of the Sovran poet than a hundred minor songsters.

b. Characterized by ease of behaviour; affable, genial, courteous. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [adjective] > affable

familiarc1425

affable?c1475

facilea1592

general1596

of good (etc.) commerce1791

blokeish1920

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > agreeable in manner > affable

debonairc1230

smoltc1400

affable?c1475

facilea1592

debonary1630

osculable1893

uncondescending1969

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > agreeable in manner > affable > easy

easy1680

dégagé1697

unembarrassed1746

unceremonious1779

facile1844

unstarched1861

a1592 R. Greene Frier Bacon (1594) sig. C Facill and debonaire in all his deeds.

1614 T. Lodge tr. Seneca Disc. Clemencie xiii, in tr. Seneca Wks. 594 Such a one, desiring to approue his gouernement to his subiect,..shal make his fortune and condition known, affable in speech, facile in accesse, amiable in countenance, which most of al winneth the peoples hearts.

1638 D. Featley Transubstant. Exploded 219 A young Gentleman of a facile and affable disposition.

1720 R. Fiddes Theologia Speculativa II. iv. xv. 418 An obliging, affable, and facile temper is highly agreeable both to the rules, and to the spirit of our holy religion.

1782 F. Burney Diary & Lett. (1842) II. 150 My father is all himself—gay, facile, and sweet.

1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby I. iii. v. 316 Manners, though facile, sufficiently finished.

1876 J. G. Holland Story of Sevenoaks (new ed.) x. 134 He was positive, facile, amiable.

1925 Amer. Mercury Dec. 398/2 He had a quick, facile smile, a genial word-flow for all who knew him.

a. Unconstrained, effortless; working or flowing freely; ready, fluent.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > doing effortlessly > involving little effort

lightOE

easyc1380

softc1390

unpainful?c1425

unconstrained1541

toilless1606

facile1607

labourlessa1613

cheapa1616

unforced1642

unlaborious1644

slight1667

sweatless1893

pussyfoot1899

lite1929

light-touch1935

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > not hindering or encumbering > not hindered or encumbered > operating or progressing easily

current1577

expedite1578

glib1594

facile1607

well-oiled1614

well-going1623

undisobliging1715

sweet1725

swimming1768

society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > elegance > [adjective] > fluent or unforced

gentc1390

renablec1410

flowing1553

round1565

unracked1572

current1577

ready1583

voluble1598

facile1607

unforceda1616

fluent1625

sliding1627

unstudied1657

flippanta1677

easy1711

fast-flowing1770

fluida1794

superfluent1917

1607 B. Jonson Volpone iii. iv. sig. G2^v This Author..has so moderne, and facile a veine, Fitting the time, and catching the Court-eare.

1657 R. Austen Spirituall Use of Orchard (new ed.) 204 One man excells..in a facile, and ready expression.

1796 Ld. Sheffield in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1862) III. 371 Your..happy facile expression in writing.

1820 L. Hunt Indicator 10 May 246 On the facile wings of our sympathy.

1865 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta in Calydon 1641 Deaths..with facile feet avenged.

1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets v. 144 Stesichorus was one of those facile and abundant natures who excel in many branches of art.

1910 Amer. Hist. Rev. 15 878 An independent nature and a facile pen made the general an element of trouble at times.

1950 South Atlantic Bull. 15 1/1 Classical not only in interests but also in his facile flow of language.

1978 W. M. Armstrong E. L. Godkin vi. 102 For twenty years Peirce's facile mind ranged over a variety of scientific and philosophical questions.

2002 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (Nexis) 17 Mar. 9 f His detailed drawings of corn-field stubble are tumbling abstractions..while his portrait drawings show a facile hand and acute eye for character.

†b. Of a gate or door: easily giving way. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > feasible > able to be overcome

overcomablec1454

vincible?1555

conquerable1599

surmountable1611

surpassable1611

superable1629

facile1667

transcendible1953

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 967 Henceforth not to scorne The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd.

?1790 T. May King Asa i. 20 Who, godlike, burst the facile gates of Hell?

1799 Meteors No. 1. 21 March thence unto the Bank, whose facile doors Shall yield up all to their rapacious claw.

†B. adv.

Easily; without difficulty. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb]

lighteOE

eathOE

eathlyc1000

wellc1325

easilyc1384

easy1400

mackly1440

of light?c1450

facilely1490

facile1524

handsomely1538

eaths1594

simply1681

unproblematically1771

slick1825

1524 T. Wolsey Let. 15 Jan. in R. Fiddes Life Wolsey (1724) Collect. 142 His Contries whose parts non of the Lords or Commons would soe facile inclyne unto.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxxxii^v What soeuer were purposed to hym they..might easely se, & facile heare the same.

1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus ii. f. 19 The..Musis..mair facill ȝour mater will consaif, Fra time that thay heir ȝour enarratiue.

a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) xi. xii. f. 429^v in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) That scho mycht mare facile circumvene the king.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	facile
释义	facileadj.adv. Brit. /ˈfasʌɪl/, U.S. /ˈfæs(ə)l/ Forms: late Middle English–1500s facyle, late Middle English–1500s facylle, late Middle English– facile, 1500s–1700s facil, 1500s–1700s facill, 1600s facille; Scottish pre-1700 faccell, pre-1700 facell, pre-1700 facil, pre-1700 facill, pre-1700 facyl, pre-1700 facyll, pre-1700 fasill, pre-1700 1700s– facile. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French facile; Latin facilis. Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman and Middle French facile (French facile ) easy, straightforward (c1440 in Anglo-Norman and Middle French), ready, willing (1559), productive, creative (1613), weak, soft, idiotic (17th cent.), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin facilis easy to do, straightforward, involving no difficulties, easily obtained, easy to bear, prone, ready, quick, indulgent, accommodating, propitious, favourable, tame, tractable, nimble, agile, skilful, free, liberal, (of speech) unforced, natural, in post-classical Latin also easy to comprehend or answer (from 8th cent. in British sources), easily uttered, fluent (13th cent. in British sources) < facere to do (see fact n.) + -ilis -il suffix. Compare Occitan facile, Catalan fàcil (14th cent.), Spanish fácil (1490; 1438 as fácile), Portuguese fácil (1516), Italian facile (a1342). A. adj. 1. a. That can be achieved with little effort; straightforward, easy. In later use frequently in disparaging sense: contemptibly easy. Formerly often used predicatively with infinitive, and in phrases with easy. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > easy to do or accomplish eathlyc1000 lightOE eathc1175 easyc1380 facile1484 good1490 easy (also simple, etc.) as pie1890 untroublesome1894 potty1899 sitting1932 cake1968 slow-pitch1981 renable1995 1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope 97 It is facyle to scape out of the handes of the blynd. a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 89 As the one ys ful of hardnes & dyffyculty..so the other ys facyle & esy. 1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Scotl. 449/1 in Chron. I They..thought it easie and facile to bee concluded. 1641 W. Prynne Antipathie Ep. Ded. sig. ¶4 I gathered with no facil labour, the most of those Materials. 1678 J. Worlidge Vinetum Britannicum (ed. 2) 239 The more facile making of the Linnen Manufacture. a1708 W. Beveridge Serm. xci. in Wks. (1729) II. 126 All other acts of piety will be facile and easy to him. 1734 S. Tipping Moral & Christian Benevolence 4 Conformity..will be rendered more easy and facile to a Person of a soft and sweet Complexion. 1800 C. Lamb Let. 3 Nov. in Lett. C & M. A. Lamb (1975) I. 244 I could not resist so facile & moderate demand, so scribbled out another, omitting Sundry things. 1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. I. 357 Having won, as he supposed, his facile victory. 1876 C. M. Davies Unorthodox London (rev. ed.) 250 The work appears facile. 1900 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 470/2 The English drawing master did not teach art, but facile tricks of the brush. 1954 E. Lyons Our Secret Allies iii. 53 Already the Kremlin has won too many facile victories, at home and in the international arena. 1986 Times (Nexis) 6 May Stuart Dickin had a facile win..in the restricted open..and he will now go for the Massey Ferguson Novice Final. 2004 J. Duke Women of Year 163/1 Her facile victory convinced Lukas and Klein to test her against males in the Metropolitan Handicap nine days later. b. Of instructions, a device, etc.: easy to understand or to make use of; simple. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > [adjective] understandinga1382 sensiblea1393 knowablea1425 perceivablec1443 takablec1449 understandablec1475 intendible1489 intentiblea1492 intelligible1509 facile1531 level1559 discernable1561 receptible1574 intendable?1577 excogitable1592 penetrable1594 comprehensible1598 scrutablec1604 distinguishable1611 discernible1616 perviousa1631 fathomable1633 cognoscible1648 colligible1650 determinable1658 intelligent1676 cognizable1681 apprehensive1692 susceptible1694 tangible1709 apprehensible1715 pronounced1728 comprehendible1814 graspable1818 prehensiblea1832 prononcé1838 possible1864 receivable1865 unsmothered1891 readable1908 discriminable1946 the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > clearness, lucidity > [adjective] sutelc897 openeOE plaina1398 sada1400 familiar1509 facile1531 lightsome1532 well-determined1560 pervial1595 uncurious1601 articulate1603 distinct1609 unmisinterpretablea1631 dilucida1640 limpid1649 dilucidate1651 unmysterious1663 incurious1664 elucidatea1670 accessible1681 distinguished1700 dilucidated1759 unmistakable1822 black and white1838 clear-cut1843 square on1963 the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > easy to make use of facile1678 user-friendly1981 1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. v. sig. Ciii As touchynge grammere, there is at this day better introductions, and more facile, than euer before were made. 1579 L. Digges & T. Digges Stratioticos ii. vii. 47 We have by the former Rules produced this playne and facile Aequation. 1633 Sc. Acts Chas. I c. 34 The short and facile grammer. 1644 J. Milton Of Educ. 5 Those Poets which are now counted most hard, will be both facil and pleasant. 1678 J. Worlidge Vinetum Britannicum (ed. 2) 105 To make this Curious Machine more useful and facile. 1786 T. Woolston Let. in D. Fenning Young Algebraists' Compan. (1787) p. v It having been long considered as a most facile Introduction to Algebra. 1797 A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl II. x. 182 The harp and the piano forte were equally facile to Rosa. 1854 E. Longley Amer. Man. Phonogr. 9 Phonography..presents to the world an alphabet of letters so simple and facile that he who uses it must readily keep pace with the fastest speaker. 1900 Atlantic Monthly Mar. 367/1 It is not likely..that the modern innovators will be able to corrupt permanently the French language, so clear, facile, and solidly constructed. 1932 Q. Rev. Biol. 7 249/2 A simple and facile introduction to statistical methods. 2005 Focus (Nexis) 22 Mar. 50 [The book] appears to be appropriate for guiding students through the nuances of blood gas while providing experienced clinicians with a facile guide for occasional reference. c. Of a course of action, a method, etc.: presenting few difficulties. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] lightlyOE eatha1225 easyc1380 tenderc1400 lightsome1440 rife1557 facile1559 eefe1578 problemless1911 easy-breezy1948 without tears1962 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 109 The waye is very facile, and without great laboure. 1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 193 Yet haue they found out this facile & ready course. 1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre iii. ii. 112 His Holinesse hath a facile and cheap way both to gratifie and engage ambitious spirits. a1718 W. Penn Tracts in Wks. (1726) I. 703 It will render the Magistrates Province more facil. 1736 S.-Carolina Gaz. 10 Jan. 3/1 David Delescure Reader of the French Church, teaches French and English in a facil and easy Method, either at home or abroad. 1808 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Devon Concl. 463 Baiting..in the manner performed on the continent, is an infinitely more economical and facile mode of administering refreshment to a jaded animal. 1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps ii. ix. 271 The facile modes of measurement which we now employ. 1903 Econ. Jrnl. 13 501 This expedient may prove the most facile means of meeting a financial difficulty. 1937 J. Marquand Thank you, Mr. Moto xx. 162 I once had possessed the reputation of being a good negotiator, and of having a facile way of reconciling disputes between contending parties. 1978 Southern Econ. Jrnl. 44 827 The use of inflation as a tax has become a facile means for financing deficits. 2000 San Diego Union-Tribune (Nexis) 9 May (Computer Link section) 5 There's no doubting the effectiveness of this painless, facile strategy for helping the hungry. d. depreciative. Esp. of an explanation, doctrine, etc.: superficial, simplistic, glib; without depth. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > insubstantial thin?c1225 lighta1413 superficiala1425 sleevelessc1450 frivolous1549 frothy1593 windy1593 shallow1594 airy1600 ghostlessa1603 sleazy1648 tenuious1656 wishy-washy1693 gauzy1774 lathery1803 wish-washy1814 tenuousa1817 toy1821 flimsy1827 airy-fairy1857 facile1857 feeblish1882 popcorn1973 1857 N.Y. Times 17 Oct. 4/3 We must not suffer ourselves to be too easily led off into a Tariff crusade through the facile explanation which some economists profess to have found of our commercial stagnation. 1863 Daily News 8 Jan. 4/3 Their facile suggestions assume that we may send our worst and most incorrigible convicts to any part of it [sc. Australia]. 1930 Notes & Queries 159 272/2 Rather a simpliste, facile doctrine perhaps. 1956 V. Gordon Childe Piecing together Past viii. 153 A much profounder study of the cultures concerned than is demanded for facile migrationist interpretations. 2006 Time Out N.Y. 17 Aug. 103/2 The films' blend of Eurosleaze exploitation and existentialism can seem facile. 2. †a. Easily led or influenced; flexible, compliant, yielding. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > authority > subjection > obedience > manageability > [adjective] > tractable > easily softc1275 facilea1530 a1530 T. Elyot tr. Plutarch Educ. Children (?1532) iii. sig. Biii That very yonge age is tender and facile to be wrought: & lernynge is beste instylled and brought in wittes, whiles they be softe and delycate. 1556 W. Lauder Compend. Tractate Dewtie of Kyngis sig. B2^v Be nocht ouir facill for to trow Quhill that ȝe try, the mater throw. c1610 J. Melville Mem. Own Life (1683) 103 Facil Princes..promote them [sc. Flatterers] above faithful Friends. 1661 tr. J. Colet Serm. Conform. & Reform. ii. 18 Those canons..that do warn you..not to be too facile in admitting into holy Orders. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd i. 51 Adam and his facil consort Eve Lost Paradise. View more context for this quotation 1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) xvii. cxcvii. 269 Alas, That facil Hearts should to themselves be foes. 1744 C. Morris Ess. fixing True Standards Wit Introd. p. ix Men of facile or versatile Manners; who can easily turn themselves to all Things. 1805 J. Foster Ess. ii. vi. 192 The tame security of facile friendly coincidence. 1866 E. A. Pollard Lost Cause 101 His honesty was rather that facile disposition that readily took impressions from whatever was urged on it. b. Chiefly Scots Law. Weak-minded, gullible; simple-minded. Frequently in weak and (also or) facile. ΚΠ 1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. i. ix. 94 Extortion was found relevant to reduce a Disposition, by a facile weak person, who..subscribed a Disposition of his whole Estate, for a cause not near the third of its value. 1754 J. Erskine Princ. Law Scotl. II. iv. i. 423 Where a person of weak or facile temper executes a deed in itself irrational, the most slender circumstances of fraud on the part of the receiver, will be laid hold of. 1772 C. Forbes Information against J. Earl 6 Alexander Forbes being a facile weak man, it was thought a proper measure, that he should execute a disposition of his estate in favour of Donald and John Cattanachs. 1861 G. Ross W. Bell's Dict. Law Scotl. (rev. ed.) 376/1 A person is said to be of a facile disposition, when, although not a fit subject for cognition as an idiot, he is easily imposed upon and liable..to do deeds to his own prejudice. 1887 Grierson Dickson's Tract. Evidence §35 Proof that the granter of a deed was naturally weak and facile..has been held to reflect the burden of proving that [etc.]. 1939 Faculty Digest Suppl. (1939–40) 314 His mental grasp was feeble, he was weak and facile, and he did not understand the purposes and effect of what he was doing. 2000 R. Zimmermann & S. Whittaker Good Faith in European Contract Law 278 The onus is on Paul to establish that when he entered into the contract, he was in a weak or facile state of mind. 3. Of a person or his or her attributes. †a. Not harsh or severe; gentle, lenient, mild. Also with to and infinitive. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > [adjective] stillc825 tamec888 nesheOE mildeOE softOE lithea1000 daftc1000 methefulOE sefteOE meekc1175 benign1377 pleasablea1382 mytha1400 tendera1400 unfelona1400 mansuetea1425 meeta1425 gentlec1450 moy1487 placablea1522 facile1539 effeminate1594 silver1596 mildya1603 unmalicious1605 uncruel1611 maliceless1614 tender-hefteda1616 unpersecutive1664 baby-milda1845 rose water1855 turtlish1855 unvindictive1857 soft-boiled1859 tenderful1901 soft-lining1967 1539 R. Taverner Garden of Wysdom sig. E.v Omyttynge his former seueritie and rowghnes, he shewed hym selfe gentle and facyle, to such as loued to waxe ryche with the detryment of the comon wealth. 1541 T. Elyot Image of Gouernance xxxvii. f. 88 Your proper nature is mylde, facile, gentyll, and wytty. 1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 116 She was of a more facile and better inclined disposition. 1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. v. 228 Q. Elizabeth..A Princesse most facil to forgive injuries. 1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. v. 197 However he were facil to his Son, and seditious Nobles..yet his Queen he treated not the less honourably. 1851 F. Palgrave Hist. Normandy & Eng. I. 297 The guilty sons were too happy to avail themselves of his facile tenderness. 1887 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 295/1 The gentle and facile writer, whom simple minds love, but who has no more claim to the rank of the Sovran poet than a hundred minor songsters. b. Characterized by ease of behaviour; affable, genial, courteous. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [adjective] > affable familiarc1425 affable?c1475 facilea1592 general1596 of good (etc.) commerce1791 blokeish1920 the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > agreeable in manner > affable debonairc1230 smoltc1400 affable?c1475 facilea1592 debonary1630 osculable1893 uncondescending1969 the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > agreeable in manner > affable > easy easy1680 dégagé1697 unembarrassed1746 unceremonious1779 facile1844 unstarched1861 a1592 R. Greene Frier Bacon (1594) sig. C Facill and debonaire in all his deeds. 1614 T. Lodge tr. Seneca Disc. Clemencie xiii, in tr. Seneca Wks. 594 Such a one, desiring to approue his gouernement to his subiect,..shal make his fortune and condition known, affable in speech, facile in accesse, amiable in countenance, which most of al winneth the peoples hearts. 1638 D. Featley Transubstant. Exploded 219 A young Gentleman of a facile and affable disposition. 1720 R. Fiddes Theologia Speculativa II. iv. xv. 418 An obliging, affable, and facile temper is highly agreeable both to the rules, and to the spirit of our holy religion. 1782 F. Burney Diary & Lett. (1842) II. 150 My father is all himself—gay, facile, and sweet. 1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby I. iii. v. 316 Manners, though facile, sufficiently finished. 1876 J. G. Holland Story of Sevenoaks (new ed.) x. 134 He was positive, facile, amiable. 1925 Amer. Mercury Dec. 398/2 He had a quick, facile smile, a genial word-flow for all who knew him. 4. a. Unconstrained, effortless; working or flowing freely; ready, fluent. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > doing effortlessly > involving little effort lightOE easyc1380 softc1390 unpainful?c1425 unconstrained1541 toilless1606 facile1607 labourlessa1613 cheapa1616 unforced1642 unlaborious1644 slight1667 sweatless1893 pussyfoot1899 lite1929 light-touch1935 the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > not hindering or encumbering > not hindered or encumbered > operating or progressing easily current1577 expedite1578 glib1594 facile1607 well-oiled1614 well-going1623 undisobliging1715 sweet1725 swimming1768 society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > elegance > [adjective] > fluent or unforced gentc1390 renablec1410 flowing1553 round1565 unracked1572 current1577 ready1583 voluble1598 facile1607 unforceda1616 fluent1625 sliding1627 unstudied1657 flippanta1677 easy1711 fast-flowing1770 fluida1794 superfluent1917 1607 B. Jonson Volpone iii. iv. sig. G2^v This Author..has so moderne, and facile a veine, Fitting the time, and catching the Court-eare. View more context for this quotation 1657 R. Austen Spirituall Use of Orchard (new ed.) 204 One man excells..in a facile, and ready expression. 1796 Ld. Sheffield in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1862) III. 371 Your..happy facile expression in writing. 1820 L. Hunt Indicator 10 May 246 On the facile wings of our sympathy. 1865 A. C. Swinburne Atalanta in Calydon 1641 Deaths..with facile feet avenged. 1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets v. 144 Stesichorus was one of those facile and abundant natures who excel in many branches of art. 1910 Amer. Hist. Rev. 15 878 An independent nature and a facile pen made the general an element of trouble at times. 1950 South Atlantic Bull. 15 1/1 Classical not only in interests but also in his facile flow of language. 1978 W. M. Armstrong E. L. Godkin vi. 102 For twenty years Peirce's facile mind ranged over a variety of scientific and philosophical questions. 2002 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (Nexis) 17 Mar. 9 f His detailed drawings of corn-field stubble are tumbling abstractions..while his portrait drawings show a facile hand and acute eye for character. †b. Of a gate or door: easily giving way. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > feasible > able to be overcome overcomablec1454 vincible?1555 conquerable1599 surmountable1611 surpassable1611 superable1629 facile1667 transcendible1953 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 967 Henceforth not to scorne The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd. View more context for this quotation ?1790 T. May King Asa i. 20 Who, godlike, burst the facile gates of Hell? 1799 Meteors No. 1. 21 March thence unto the Bank, whose facile doors Shall yield up all to their rapacious claw. †B. adv. Easily; without difficulty. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [adverb] lighteOE eathOE eathlyc1000 wellc1325 easilyc1384 easy1400 mackly1440 of light?c1450 facilely1490 facile1524 handsomely1538 eaths1594 simply1681 unproblematically1771 slick1825 1524 T. Wolsey Let. 15 Jan. in R. Fiddes Life Wolsey (1724) Collect. 142 His Contries whose parts non of the Lords or Commons would soe facile inclyne unto. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxxxii^v What soeuer were purposed to hym they..might easely se, & facile heare the same. 1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus ii. f. 19 The..Musis..mair facill ȝour mater will consaif, Fra time that thay heir ȝour enarratiue. a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece Hist. Scotl. (Mar Lodge) xi. xii. f. 429^v in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (at cited word) That scho mycht mare facile circumvene the king. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adj.adv.1484
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