easy

I. adjective (easier; -est) Etymology: Middle English esy, from Anglo-French eisé, aasié, past participle of eiser, aaisier to ease, from a- ad- (from Latin ad-) + eise ease Date: 13th century 1. a. causing or involving little difficulty or discomfort <

within easy reach

> b. requiring or indicating little effort, thought, or reflection <

easy clichés

> 2. a. not severe ; lenient <

hopes they'll be easy on him

> b. not steep or abrupt <

easy slopes

> c. not difficult to endure or undergo <

an easy penalty

> d. readily taken advantage of <

an easy target for takeovers

> <

an easy mark for con men

> e. (1) readily available <

easy pickings

> (2) plentiful in supply at low or declining interest rates <

easy money

> (3) less in demand and usually lower in price <

bonds were easier

> f. pleasant <

easy listening

> g. sexually promiscuous 3. a. marked by peace and comfort <

the easy life of a courtier

> b. not hurried or strenuous <

an easy pace

> 4. a. free from pain, annoyance, or anxiety <

did all she could to make him easier

> b. marked by social ease <

an air of easy assurance

> c. easygoing <

an easy disposition

> 5. a. giving ease, comfort, or relaxation b. not burdensome or straitened <

bought on easy terms

> c. fitting comfortably ; allowing freedom of movement <

easy jackets

> d. marked by ready facility <

an easy flowing style

> e. felt or attained to readily, naturally, and spontaneously <

an easy smile

> • easiness noun Synonyms: easy, facile, simple, light, effortless, smooth mean not demanding effort or involving difficulty. easy is applicable either to persons or things imposing tasks or to activity required by such tasks <

an easy college course

>. facile often adds to easy the connotation of undue haste or shallowness <

facile answers to complex questions

>. simple stresses ease in understanding or dealing with because complication is absent <

a simple problem in arithmetic

>. light stresses freedom from what is burdensome <

a light teaching load

>. effortless stresses the appearance of ease and usually implies the prior attainment of artistry or expertness <

moving with effortless grace

>. smooth stresses the absence or removal of all difficulties, hardships, or obstacles <

a smooth ride

>. Synonym: see in addition comfortable. II. adverb (easier; -est) Date: 14th century 1. easily 1 <

promises come easy

> 2. without undue speed or excitement <

take it easy

> 3. a. without worry or care <

rest easy

> b. without a severe penalty <

got off easy

> c. without violent movement <

the boat rode easy

> 4. easily 2 <

cost $500 easy

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