facilement

Forms

facilement (adverb)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French facile + -ment.^[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found about 1450, as facillement, in the Mistère du Viel Testament, meaning “easily”.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The adverb has been very common since the 15th century; from the mid-20th century it has had a rival in spontaneous speech in facile used as an adverb.^[5] Besides “without effort”, it means “for little reason” (of something that happens readily) and, familiarly, “at least”, in estimating a quantity.^[7][2]

Timeline

• c. 1450 – Facillement in the Mistère du Viel Testament.^[2][6]
• 1475 – Recorded in the Chroniques des chanoines de Neuchâtel.^[8]
• 16th century – Montaigne: estre le premier de la Grece, c'est facilement estre le premier du monde.^[4]
• Mid-20th century – Adverbial facile begins to compete with it in speech.^[5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Easily, without effort or difficulty: elle a résolu le problème facilement.^[7][2][4]
2. For little reason; readily: il se fâche facilement.^[7]
3. (familiar) At least, easily (of a quantity): il faut facilement deux heures pour y aller.^[7][2]

Related words

• facile
• facilité
• difficilement

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse