Facile

Fac"ile

(?) a. [L. facilis, prop., capable of being done or made, hence, facile, easy, fr. facere to make, do: cf. F. facile. Srr Fact, and cf. Faculty.] 1. Easy to be done or performed: not difficult; performable or attainable with little labor.
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Order . . . will render the work facile and delightful.

Evelyn.
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2. Easy to be surmounted or removed; easily conquerable; readily mastered.
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The facile gates of hell too slightly barred.

Milton.
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3. Easy of access or converse; mild; courteous; not haughty, austere, or distant; affable; complaisant.
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I meant she should be courteous, facile, sweet.

B. Jonson.
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4. Easily persuaded to good or bad; yielding; ductile to a fault; pliant; flexible.
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Since Adam, and his facile consort Eve,
Lost Paradise, deceived by me.

Milton.
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This is treating Burns like a child, a person of so facile a disposition as not to be trusted without a keeper on the king's highway.

Prof. Wilson.
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5. Ready; quick; expert; as, he is facile in expedients; he wields a facile pen.

-- Fac"ile*ly, adv. -- Fac"ile*ness, n.
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Thu 21st August 2008