facile

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English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle French facile, from Latin facilis (easy to do, easy, literally doable), from facere (to do, make). Compare Spanish fácil ("easy").

Pronunciation [edit]

Adjective [edit]

facile (comparative more facile, superlative most facile)

  1. Easy, now especially in a disparaging sense; contemptibly easy. [from 15th c.]
    • 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. (now rare) Amiable, flexible, easy to get along with. [from 16th c.]
    His facile disposition made him many friends.
  3. Effortless, fluent (of work, abilities etc.). [from 17th c.]
    • 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.
    • 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.
  4. 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.
  5. (chemistry) Of a reaction or other process, taking place readily.
    Decarboxylation of beta-keto acids is facile...

Related terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

External links [edit]


Esperanto [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

  • IPA: /faˈtsi.le/

Adverb [edit]

facile

  1. easily

Antonyms [edit]

Related terms [edit]


French [edit]

Etymology [edit]

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

Pronunciation [edit]

  • IPA: /fa.sil/, X-SAMPA: /fa.sil/
  • (file)
  • Homophone: faciles
  • Hyphenation: fa‧cile

Adjective [edit]

facile (masculine and feminine, plural faciles)

  1. easy, simple

Antonyms [edit]

Anagrams [edit]


Interlingua [edit]

Adjective [edit]

facile (comparative plus facile, superlative le plus facile)

  1. easy

Antonyms [edit]


Italian [edit]

Etymology [edit]

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

Pronunciation [edit]

Adjective [edit]

facile m and f (m and f plural facili)

  1. easy
  2. cosy
  3. effortless

Related terms [edit]

Anagrams [edit]


Latin [edit]

Adverb [edit]

facile (comparative facilius, superlative facillimē)

  1. easily

Synonyms [edit]