faciliter

Forms

faciliter^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian facilitare (“to remove difficulties, make easy”), recorded about 1304 in Giordano da Pisa, a derivative of facilità (“ease”).^[2][3][1][4] The Italian noun is from Latin facilitas.^[5][6][7] Littré notes the form faciliser in a translation of Machiavelli's Prince, and that Pasquier counted the verb among the newly introduced words.^[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in the 15th century, in the Chronique of Jean Chartier, in the sense “to make easy or easier”.^[2][7]

Semantic evolution

Its meaning has stayed close to the Italian one, to make something easier or to remove the obstacles attached to it.^[7][4] Littré quotes it from Amyot in the 16th century.^[8] It has given facilitation (1832, Stendhal) and, in the 20th century, facilitateur.^[2][6]

Timeline

• c. 1304 – Italian facilitare is recorded in Giordano da Pisa.^[2]
• 15th century – Jean Chartier uses faciliter.^[2]
• 16th century – Amyot uses it in his Fables.^[8]
• 1832 – Stendhal uses the derivative facilitation.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make easy or easier; to facilitate.^[4][8][2][1]
2. To remove the obstacles or drawbacks attached to something.^[7]
3. Se faciliter la vie: to make one's own life easier.^[4]

Word family

• facilitation
• facilitateur

Related words

• facile
• facilité
• Latin facilitas

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
4. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
8. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette