facile

views updated May 21 2018

fac·ile / ˈfasəl/ • adj. 1. (esp. of a theory or argument) appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring complexities; superficial. ∎  having a superficial or simplistic knowledge or approach: a facile and shallow intellect.2. easily achieved; effortless: a facile victory. ∎  acting or done in a quick, fluent, and easy manner: a facile liar.DERIVATIVES: fac·ile·ly adv.fac·ile·ness n.ORIGIN: late 15th cent. (in the sense ‘easily accomplished’): from French, or from Latin facilis ‘easy,’ from facere ‘do, make.’

facile

views updated May 21 2018

facile easy XV; easily led XVI; moving freely XVII. — F. facile or L. facilis, f. facere DO1; see -ILE.
So facility XV. facilitate XVII. — F. faciliter.

facile

views updated May 29 2018

facile (Fr.). Easy. facilement (Fr.), facilmente (It.). Easily, i.e. fluently and without an effect of striving.