easy

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Not difficult; needing little effort.

   The test was easy, so everyone passed.

2. 2
   adj

   Free from worry, pain, or anxiety.

   Knowing the children were safe, her mind was easy.

3. 3
   adj

   Comfortable and pleasant.

   The soft light was easy on my eyes.

4. 4
   adv

   In a relaxed or gentle way; without effort.

   Take it easy and rest for a while.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Easy entered Middle English through Old French aisier, “put at ease, facilitate,” ultimately from Latin adjacens, “lying close by.” In Middle English it could mean “comfortable” or “convenient” as well as “not difficult.”

From Middle English esy, eesy, partly from Middle English ese (“ease”) + -y, equivalent to ease + -y, and partly from Anglo-Norman eisé from Old French aisié (“eased, at ease, at leisure”), past participle of aisier (“to put at ease”), from aise (“empty space, elbow room, opportunity”), of uncertain origin. See ease. Merged with Middle English ethe, eathe (“easy”), from Old English īeþe, from Proto-Germanic *auþuz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwtus, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- (“to enjoy, consume”). Compare also Old Saxon ōþi, Old High German ōdi, Old Norse auðr, auð-, Icelandic auð (adver…

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External links

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