facile

English

Etymology

From Middle French facile, from Latin facilis (“easy to do, easy, literally doable”), from facere (“to do, make”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈfa.sʌɪl/
• (US) IPA: /ˈfæ.saɪl/

Adjective

facile (comparative more facile, superlative most facile)

1. (obsolete) Easy.
   • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, 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 [...].

2. Easy, specifically in a disparaging sense; taking minimal effort; lazy, simplistic.

   His facile approach to the task meant he would not achieve the best possible results.

3. Amiable, flexible, easy to get along with.

   His facile disposition made him many friends.

4. (chemistry) Of a reaction or other process, taking place readily.

   Decarboxylation of beta-keto acids is facile...

Related terms

• facilitation
• facilitative
• facilitate
• facilitator
• facilitatory
• facility

External links

• 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

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Esperanto

Pronunciation

• IPA: /faˈtsi.le/

Adverb

facile

1. easily

Antonyms

• malfacile (“with difficulty”)

Related terms

• facila (“easy”)
• facile (“easily”)
• facili (“to be easy”)

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French

Etymology

From Latin facilis (“easy”), from faciō (“do, make”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /fa.sil/, X-SAMPA: /fa.sil/

• Audio (France, Paris)

  (file)

• Homophone: faciles
• Hyphenation: fa‧cile

Adjective

facile (epicene, plural faciles)

1. easy, simple

Antonyms

• difficile

Anagrams

• ficela

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Interlingua

Adjective

facile (comparative plus facile, superlative le plus facile)

1. easy

Antonyms

• difficile

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Italian

Etymology

From Latin facilis (“easy”), from faciō (“do, make”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈfaː.tʃi.le/, SAMPA: /"fa:.tSi.le/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

facile m. and f. (m and f plural facili)

1. easy
2. cosy
3. effortless

Related terms

• facilità
• facilitare
• facilone

Anagrams

• cefali
• fecali

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Latin

Adverb

facile (comparative facilius, superlative facillimē)

1. easily

Synonyms

• faciliter