easy English · revision 3651

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200|origins=fro aise}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈiː.zi/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|aisie]] (later [[m|enm|esi]]), [[bor|fro|aisié|t=comfortable, at ease; well-off]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) the past participle of [[m|fro|aisier|t=to put at ease]], from [[m|fro|aise|t=ease]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) the source of [[ease]].^(Etymonline)^(COED 2004) The American Heritage Dictionary and Merriam-Webster also cite the form [[m|fro|aaisié]], with the prefix [[m|fro|a-]], from Latin [[m|la|ad-]].^(AHD 2000)^(MWU 2024) The Word Origins dictionary traces ''ease'' to Latin [[m|la|adjacēns|t=lying close by]], the source of [[adjacent]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Able, having the opportunity: probably before 1200.^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline gives about 1200 for “at ease, free from discomfort and anxiety”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense “not difficult” appears about 1280,^(Barnhart 1988) or in the late 13th century,^(Etymonline) perhaps influenced by the noun ''ease''.^(Barnhart 1988) Old English and early Middle English expressed this idea with ''ēaþe'' and ''īeþe''.^(Etymonline) Of conditions, “comfortable, pleasant”, is early 14th century, and of people, “lenient, calm”, late 14th century.^(Etymonline) “Easily persuaded” is from the 1610s.^(Etymonline) The spelling ''easy'' appeared in the first half of the 15th century but was established only in the late 17th.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Easily'' is from about 1290,^(Barnhart 1988) ''easygoing'' from 1674 and ''easy chair'' from 1707.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Be easy'' is from 1746 and ''take it easy'' from 1804, ''easy does it'' from 1835, ''easy money'' from 1889 and ''Easy Street'' from 1890.^(Etymonline) ''Easy-peasy'' is from the 1950s.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – able (''aisie'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1280 – not difficult.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1290 – ''easily''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – of people, lenient.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1610s – easily persuaded.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1674 – ''easygoing''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1804 – ''take it easy''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1890 – ''Easy Street''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1950s – ''easy-peasy''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not difficult; needing little effort.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Undemanding: ''an easy boss''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Free from worry, pain or trouble.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Giving comfort; [[comfortable]]; well-off: ''in easy circumstances''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Relaxed in manner; at ease socially.^(AHD)

+ # Readily persuaded or influenced.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Without haste or strain: ''take it easy''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # With little effort; easily.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # In a moderate way: ''go easy on the salt''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[easiness]]

+ * [[easylike]]

+ * [[easygoing]]

+ * [[overeasy]]

+ * [[easily]]

+ * [[uneasily]]

+ * [[easy chair]]

+ * [[easy listening]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ease]]

+ * [[adjacent]]

+ * [[uneasy]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary groups ''easy'' with ''simple'', ''facile'', ''effortless'', ''smooth'' and ''light'', all meaning requiring little effort.^(AHD) It notes that ''easy'' applies both to tasks and to people who are not demanding.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}