Easy a. and adv.

Forms: 3–4 aisie, -y, ? eise, 3–5 eese, -i, -y, 4–6 esee, -i(e, -y(e, (4 eisy, 5 eyse, ȝeesy, hesy), 6–8 easie, -ye, (9 dial. yezzy, yeasy) 4– easy. [a. OF. aisié (mod. aisé), pa. pple. of OF. aiser, aisier to put at ease, whence EASE v. The development of the Eng. senses has been affected by EASE sb.; the mod.Fr. uses of aise may also have had some influence.]

  I.  At ease; characterized by ease or freedom from pain or constraint.

  † 1.  At liberty, having opportunity or means (to do something). Cf. EASE sb. 1.

  [Possibly eise in quot. 1225 may be a distinct word, a. Fr. aise at ease.]

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 47. Offredde loc for him . alse hie aisie was; gif hie was riche wimman . a lomb … gif hie was poure two duue briddes.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 20. Et te one psalme ȝe schulen stonden, ȝif ȝe beoð eise, [v.r. aise] & et te oðer sitten.

  2.  Of conditions or state: Characterized by ease or rest; comfortable, luxurious, quiet.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 166. Worldly honour & aisy lif.

1483.  Cath. Angl., 117. Esy; ediosus, secundus.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 185. You vie Happiness in a thousand easy and sweet Diversions.

c. 1680.  Beveridge, Serm. (1729), I. 123. In the full enjoyment of all things that can make their life easy, pleasant and happy.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (ed. 3), I. 114. My Condition began now to be … much easier to my Mind.

18[?].  Mrs. Browning, Little Mattie, v. ’Twas a green and easy world As she took it.

  3.  Of persons: Free from physical pain or discomfort, or from outward annoyance or burden.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 143. Esy, Quietus.

1695.  Blackmore, Pr. Arth., II. 741/57. The sick grow easie, and the feeble strong.

a. 1791.  Wesley, Wks. (1830), XII. 131. Mr. W’s radical cure I shall hardly try, I am very easy, and that is enough.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., X. 256. Head easy, thirst and general indisposition continued. Ibid. (1809), XXI. 487. After an opiate he became easier.

  4.  Free from constraint or stiffness; chiefly of or with reference to bodily posture or movements. Also transf. of manners or behavior: Free from embarrassment or awkwardness. Also in phrase, Free and easy (see FREE).

1483.  Cath. Angl., 117. Esy of gate; gracilis.

1656.  H. More, Antid. Ath. (1712), Gen. Pref. 17. That I might the more undisturbedly write the easie Emanations of mine own Mind.

1680.  Burnet, Rochester, 7. His Conversation was easie and obliging.

1704.  Rowe, Ulyss., I. i. 77. Be easie, affable, familiar, friendly.

1750.  Earl Shaftesb. in Priv. Lett. 1st Ld. Malmesbury, I. 77. Handel … is quite easy in his behaviour.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xvi. Leicester, bowing to his rival with the easiest and most graceful courtesy.

1837.  Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III. 142. He was a most friendly personage, as willing as he was free and easy.

1850.  Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Monast. Ord. (1863), 279. To an easy graceful carriage … he added … great skill in argument.

  b.  of written compositions: Showing no trace of effort; smooth, flowing. Also transf. Of a writer or thinker.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 109, ¶ 5. He sits with one Hand on a Desk writing and looking as it were another way, like an easy Writer.

1713.  Guardian, No. 15 (1756), I. 69. As there is an easy mien, and easy dress … so there is an easy sort of poetry.

1832.  trans. Sismondi’s Ital. Rep., vii. 153. The light, elegant, and easy prose of his novels.

1880.  L. Stephen, Pope, iv. 90. He could seldom lay aside his self-consciousness sufficiently to write an easy letter.

1884.  R. W. Church, Bacon, ix. 220. Easy and unstudied as his writing seems, it was, as we have seen, the result of unintermitted trouble and varied modes of working.

  5.  Not hard pressed: not hurried, gentle; said of motion, a breeze, a fire, etc. Also Naut., as easy sail.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 284. I saugh comyng of ladyes nientene In … a ful esy paas.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. xvii. (Tollem. MS.). To make þe syȝte perfit þis þingis beþ nedful; þe cause efficient … and takynge hede, and esy meuynge [L. motus mediocris]. Ibid., XIX. lx. (1495), 897. Oximell is sodde on easy fyre and softe vnto it be thycke.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 143. Esy, or softe, yn sterynge, lentus.

1608.  Topsell, Serpents, 283. They [Tortoyces] haue a very slowe and easie pace.

1671.  Milton, P. R., I. 120. So to the Coast of Jordan he directs His easie steps.

1704.  J. Cunningham, in Phil. Trans., XXV. 1659. Fair and serene weather,… with easie Gales at S.

1716.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5450/2. We made an easie sail for the Maese.

1834.  Caunter, Orient. Ann., i. 2. We coasted within four leagues of the land, under easy sail, with light breezes.

1852.  G. W. Curtis, Wand. in Syria, I. i. 8. The donkeys are like large dogs, and of easy motion.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Easy draught. The same as light draught of water. Easy roll. A vessel is said to ‘roll deep but easy’ when she moves slowly, and not with quick jerks.

  b.  Be easy! do not hurry, don’t be so eager. Now considered an ‘Irishism.’

1746.  W. Thompson, R. N. Advoc. (1757), 26. That Gentleman … advised the said William Thompson to be easy for a little Time.

1838.  Jas. Grant, Sk. Lond., 41. ‘Be aisy, be aisy!… and don’t be after killin’ him quite.’

  6.  Free from mental anxiety, care or apprehension. Phrase, To make (a person) easy.

1692.  E. Walker, trans. Epictetus’ Mor., xx. 25.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (ed. 3), I. 360. I was perfectly easy as to the Security of my Effects. Ibid. (1722), Col. Jack (1840), 208. I made her easy on that point.

1817.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. v. 187. Meer Causim was not easy upon the prospect of a connexion between the Emperor and the English.

1885.  Sir J. Hannen, in Law Rep. 10 P. D. 88. A sensitive girl, whose conscience was not easy on the subject.

  7.  Fond of ease, averse to taking pains or thought; not strenuous, indolent; careless, thoughtless, unconcerned; = EASY-GOING.

1649.  Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. § 10. 3. The easie softnesses of religious affections. Ibid. (1650), Holy Living, ii. (1727), § 79. For no easie, healthful and idle person was ever chaste.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 604/89. Indulging easie Sloath.

1724.  Watts, Logic, IV. i. (1802), 371. In this easy view of things.

1798.  Wordsw., Old Cumb. Beggar, 108. The easy man Who sits at his own door,—and … Feeds in the sunshine.

1862.  Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. xiii. 251. They mark out for their prey the easy colonists.

1871.  Rossetti, Dante at Ver., xvi. He’d meet them flushed with easy youth.

  8.  (With mixed notion of 2, 3, 6.) In comfortable circumstances, well off. Also of ‘circumstances,’ fortune.

1701.  Col. Rec. Pennsylv., II. 41. To make them and their Posterity easie in all times to come.

1708.  Swift, Abol. Chr., Wks. 1755, II. I. 86. Such a rent as, in the modern form of speech, would make them easy.

1721.  Berkeley, Prev. Ruin Gt. Brit., Wks. III. 206. Men easy in their fortunes, and unprovoked by hardships of any sort.

1726.  Butler, Serm., vi. 108. One in easie Circumstances.

1783.  Burke, Sp. E. Ind. Bill, Wks. IV. 59. These plots and rebellions … are the offspring of an easy condition, and hoarded riches.

1796.  Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 46. Easy farmers display a variety of plate.

1857.  Edin. Rev., July, 272. The ‘easy’ classes will continue to furnish the governing classes of the country.

1879.  B. Taylor, Stud. Germ. Lit., 160. He was in easy circumstances.

  II.  9. Conducive to ease or comfort: chiefly of appliances for repose. See also EASY-CHAIR.

138[?].  Antecrist, in Todd, 3 Treat. Wyclif, 129. Þei slepyn ful soft in ful eesi beddis.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 5609. Though he have lytel worldis goode, Mete & drynke, & esy foode.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. lxxviii. [lxxiv.] 234. Theyr lodgynge … was not so easye nor large as thoughe they had ben at Parys.

1855.  Bain, Senses & Int., II. i. § 19 (1864), 104. One of the pleasures of human life is to be driven along at a moderate speed, in an easy carriage.

1879.  E. Walford, Londoniana, II. 105. This mastership of the Savoy was an office much sought after as one of those ‘easy cushions’ reserved for the repose of men of merit or favourites of the great.

  † b.  Advantageous, affording convenience, satisfactory. Obs.

c. 1485.  Digby Myst. (1882), ii. 126. [A horse is] esy and prophetabyll.

1673.  Temple, Observ. United Prov., ii. 107. Having all one common End of Publique Good, They come after full Debates to easie Resolutions.

  III.  Causing little discomfort or obstruction.

  10.  Of the means, method or object of an action: Presenting few difficulties; offering little resistance. Const. inf. (act., less freq. pass.) or of followed by sb. denoting the action; also with the nature of the action contextually implied: of books, language; = easy to read, understand; of the soil; = easy to cultivate, etc.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 16557 (Trin.). Þei … cut þis tre in two; þei fond hit good and esy to dele wiþ.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 202. Þis pater noster þat is best & most hesy of alle.

15[?].  Frere & Boye, 76, in Ritson, Anc. Pop. P., 38. The olde man was easy to please.

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, III. xlviii. 385. Vitalba … hath long branches ful of ioyntes, easie to ploy.

1581.  Charke, in Confer., IV. (1584), Cc iij. The place is easie Greeke.

1600.  Holland, Livy, XXIII. xiii. 481. And nothing (quoth Hanno) is more eise and easie [facilius] to bee knowne.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xviii. 89. From want of understanding this easie truth.

1674.  Brevint, Saul at Endor, 240. Two ready and easie waies of procuring Atonement.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 282/79.

1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 291, ¶ 6. This part of a critick is very easie to succeed in.

1762–71.  H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), II. 163, note. Those, which being in great collections are most easy of access.

1776.  Adam Smith, W. N., I. I. i. 11. Men are much more likely to discover easier and readier methods of attaining any object.

1823.  Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. xii. (1865), 314. The writings of Temple are, in general, after this easy copy.

1879.  Lubbock, Sci. Lect., ii. 31. The colors and scents are useful in making the flowers more easy to find.

  b.  Of a road: That may be travelled without discomfort or difficulty. Of a slope: Gradual, not steep.

c. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1402. Þe way of dede semes large and eesy.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxxxiv. 328. And all the other of the Companyons … had more easy passage thanne those that passed the day before.

1563.  Homilies, II. Repentance II. (1859), 536. An easie and short ladder, whereby we may climbe.

1596.  Spenser, State Irel., 3. Subdued the people unto him, & made easie way to the settling of his will.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., IV. ii. 17. At last, with easie Rodes he [Wolsey] came to Leicester.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 179, ¶ 6. You mount by six easy steps.

1801.  Southey, Thalaba, VII. xx. Children of Earth,… Whom I have guided here By easier passage.

  11.  Of actions: Not difficult; to be accomplished with little effort. Frequently as complement when the subject is a vb. in the inf.; = EATH 1.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 245. For drede of lettyng of bettre occupacion þat is more liȝt or eisy.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. xx. (1495), 208. In olde men abstynence of meete is softe and easy.

1538.  Starkey, England, iii. 69. Much easyar to spy ij fautys then amend one.

1578.  T. Procter, Gorg. Gallery, in Heliconia, I. 81. As eese a broken Syve Should holde the dropping rayne.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 57. 18. After the taking of somewhat of easie Digestion.

1650.  Hubbert, Pill Formality, 144. You must live after the spirit … and thats no easie thing to do.

1729.  Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 128. It is as easy to close the eyes of the mind as those of the body.

1842.  A. Combe, Physiol. Digestion (ed. 4), 144. The easier digestibility of animal food in man.

1876.  Mozley, Univ. Serm., vii. 170. It is of the nature of habit to make acts easier and easier.

1878.  Morley, Carlyle, Crit. Misc., 196. It is easy to make a solitude and call it peace.

  12.  Of persons and their dispositions: Moved without difficulty to action or belief; soon yielding, compliant; credulous. Lady of easy virtue: euphemistically for an unchaste woman.

1611.  Shaks., Cymb., II. iv. 47. Not a whit, Your lady being so easy.

1643.  Denham, Poems, 169. An easy ear deceives, and is deceiv’d.

1672.  Dryden, Conq. Granada, III. i. An easie King deserves no better Fate. Ibid. (1697), Virg. Æneid, II. 261. With such Deceits he gain’d their easie hearts.

1752.  Young, Brothers, III. i. To which his easy nature, soon appeas’d, Invited me.

1809.  W. Irving, Knickerb., V. i. (1849), 263. The great city … seemed, like some fair lady of easy virtue, to lie open to attack, and ready to yield to the first invader.

1848.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 258. Juries were no longer so easy of belief as during the panic which followed the murder of Godfrey.

  † b.  Not unwilling, ready. Const. inf. Now only with passive, as easy to be entreated; cf. 10. Obs.

1653.  Holcroft, Procopius, III. 83. When men ignorantly … do wrong, the wronged are to be easie to grant pardon.

1665.  Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1848), 55. Hutchinson was neither easy to believe it, nor frighted at the example.

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Times (1823), I. 529. He was too easy to enter into any employment that might bring him into favour.

1738.  Wesley, Psalm cxvi. 5. How easy to forgive!

  13.  That is obtained with ease, with little effort or sacrifice.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 640/90.

1785.  Cowper, Tiroc., 766. Disease or comes not, or finds easy cure.

1856.  Trevelyan, Macaulay (1876), II. xiv. 463. He obtained an easy pardon.

  14.  Of burdens or penalties: Not oppressive or painful. Of prices or conditions: Moderate, not burdensome.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xi. 30. My ȝoc is swete, or softe, and my charge liȝt, or eisy.

1413.  Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, III. vi. (1483), 54. That hath … graunted the to be purged with more esy peynes.

1426.  Audelay, Poems, 47. Curators Engeyne ȝe not to ȝeesy penans, ne to strayt algat.

1488–9.  Act 4 Hen. VII., ix. They woll sell theym at none esier price.

1557.  N. T. (Genev.), Matt. xi. 22. It shalbe easier for Tyre and Sidon at the day of iudgement, then for you.

1663.  Gerbier, Counsel, C ij b. Where Marble is to be had at easy rate, but where Copper is very dear.

1696.  Pepys, Diary, VI. 187. Secure it for me on the easiest terms you can.

1766.  Entick, London, IV. 31. An easy fee of one shilling.

a. 1771.  Smollett, Love Elegy, 18. And bid the turf lie easy on my breast.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., IV. 251. He remained there in easy confinement.

1879.  Froude, Cæsar, iv. 34. Peace was granted to him on the easy conditions of a nominal fine.

  † b.  Of persons: Not oppressive or severe; not exacting; lenient, gentle; cf. 12. In 18th c. also: Not difficult to ‘get on’ with [cf. Fr. aisé à vivre].

c. 1325.  Body & Soul (Laud MS.), in Wright, Mapes’ Poems, 336. For I [the body] the [the soul] so eise fond the[r]fore couthe I nevere blinne.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 223. He was an esy man to yeue penaunce.

1460.  Capgrave, Chron. (1858), 70. Sche mad hir son more esy, and sesed mech his persecucion.

1483.  Vulg. abs Terentio, 30 b. Faders shuld be esy ande tendyr anemste theire chyldere.

1699.  Bentley, Phal., 310–1. Pisistratus,… a generous and easie Governour.

1714.  Swift, Pres. St. Affairs, Wks. 1755, II. I. 221. Supposing … that the elector should refuse to be … easy with the queen herself. Ibid. (1727), To Very Yng. Lady, Wks. II. II. 42. A shrew from Billingsgate would be a more easy and eligible companion.

  † 15.  Of small ‘weight’ or importance, insignificant, slight; not very good, indifferent. So easy birth, easy capacity; cf. dial. ‘Easy, idiotic’ (East Cornw. Gloss.). Obs.

1468.  Sir J. Paston, in Lett. (1874), II. 321. Thow … I … have govyn yow bot easy cause to remembyr me … yet … let me not be forgotyn.

1475.  Bk. Noblesse, 78. Holden vertuous … though he were descendid but of esie birthe.

1481.  Caxton, Tulle’s Old Age, H j. Of so grete age that he … shold be of easy power of bodily strength to make werre ayenst Carthage.

1491.  Will of Cliff (Somerset Ho.). I shall leue but Esy good.

1519.  Horman, Vulg., 147 b. Easy agrement foloweth … where women be maried not for loue but for good.

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apophth. (1877), 348. Wine that was but easie and so-so.

1641.  R. Carpenter, Experience, II. vii. 171. Shall one of us dirty creatures, frowne and be troubled,… moved by every small, and easie occasion?

1648.  Symmons, Vind. Charles I., 191. Though an easie capacity might foresee that they could do nothing by such an enterprize.

  16.  Not pressing hardly; loosely fitting; opposed to tight.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., V. iii. 50. Is my beaver easier? Ibid. (1601), All’s Well, V. iii. 278. This womans an easie gloue my Lord, She goes off and on at pleasure.

Mod.  The coat is an easy fit. An easy pair of slippers. The nut of the screw is a little too easy.

  17.  Comm. (opposed to tight.) Of a commodity: Not much in demand; hardly maintaining its price. Of the state of the market: Not characterized by eager demand; showing little firmness in prices.

1888.  Standard, 7 April, 2/8. (Trade report) Bacon is easier.

Mod.  The money-market is easy.

  18.  In Whist. Honours easy: said when the ‘honours’ are evenly divided. (Merely colloq.: the technical phrase is ‘honours divided.’)

1884.  Sat. Rev., 26 July, 103. If we have the worst of that, honours are easy.

  B.  adv. In an easy manner.

  1.  Without difficulty. Chiefly in compar. or superl.; now colloq. or vulgar.

c. 1400.  in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1866), 239. For esye he comun al esye ho ssuln wende.

1564.  Brief Exam., ***b. This thyng is easyer … saide of you, then proued.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., I. viii. 4. Three miles it might be easie heard.

c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., cx. (1609), G iij b. cix. As easie might I from my selfe depart, As [etc.].

1680.  Sir R. Filmer, Patriarcha, iii. § 12. The voice of a multitude is easier heard.

1768–74.  Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 279. The good man can easiest persuade himself that God is good.

1823.  Byron, Juan, XIV. lxxxv. A wavering spirit may be easier wreck’d.

1871.  Smiles, Charac., v. (1876), 134. All the easier led away by bad example.

  † 2.  In a very moderate degree. Obs.

1475.  Bk. Noblesse, 72. Many of the officers have be but esy vaileable to the defense of youre countre.

  3.  Not tightly, with freedom of movement.

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 204, ¶ 2. Fit as easie as any Piece of Work.

1820.  Keats, St. Agnes, xli. The bolts full easy slide.

  4.  colloq. At a leisurely pace, comfortably, without much trouble; in a comfortable position (also transf. of a ship). In phr. To take it easy, to make oneself comfortable, to do no more than one must; also, To let one off easy, i.e., with a light penalty.

1779.  Forrest, Voy. N. Guinea, 13. Which kept the vessel’s head to the sea, and made her lie easy.

1821.  Byron, Lett., civ. in Moore, Life, 1833, III. 139. ‘The two dozen’ were with the cat-o’-nine tails;—the ‘let you off easy’ was rather his own opinion than that of the patient.

1852.  Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. xii. 179. Everything was going on quite easy and comfortable.

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v., Taking it easy. Neglecting the duty.

1885.  Illust. Lond. News, 23 May, 539/2. Take my advice, and go easy for a bit.

  b.  As word of command. Easy!: (move) gently! Easy ahead!: (steam) at a moderate speed! In Boating, Easy all!: stop (rowing)! Hence as sb. A short rest.

1865.  ‘A Don,’ Sketches fr. Cambr., 119. Hallo! easy all! Hard word there, Smith! what does it mean?

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Easy. Lower gently.

1883.  Mrs. Bishop, Sk. in Malay Pen., v. in Leisure Hour, 193/2. ‘Easy ahead,’ shouts the … captain.

1885.  Standard, 6 March, 3/7. They reached Iffley Lock without an easy.

  C.  Comb. a. parasynthetic, as easy-hearted, -humo(u)red, -priced, -spirited, -tempered; b. adverbial, as easy-borrowed, -flowing, -handled, -held, -rising, -spoken, -yielding. Also EASY-GOING.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 187. A Slaue whose *easie borrowed pride Dwels in the fickle grace of her he followes.

1839.  Darley, Introd. Beaum. & Fl., I. p. xxv. Fletcher’s liveliness, bustle, his *easy-flowing language … are sure to titillate a mixed audience.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., II. xxv. 142. One of those *easy-handled personages.

1634.  Milton, Comus, 164. I … wind me into the *easy-hearted man, And hug him into snares.

1591.  Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iii. 139. Her *easie held imprisonment.

a. 1720.  Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), II. 177. Tully, the most *easy-humoured and facetious man in the world.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., II. xxv. 147. The easiest-humoured amateur of luxury.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. i. 171. Haue wrought the *easie-melting King, like Wax.

1625.  K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, II. xi. 98. There were small hillocks upon an *easie-rising plain.

1633.  Ford, Love’s Sacrif., II. iv. I was a good, cold, *easy-spirited man.

1865.  M. Arnold, Ess. Crit., i. 10. A world, where most of us are plain *easy-spoken people.

1822.  W. Irving, Braceb. Hall, iv. 38. Her ladyship is one of those *easy-tempered beings.

a. 1680.  Butler, Rem. (1759), XIV. 65. For what does vast Wealth bring, but Cheat … An *easy-troubled Life, and short?

1597.  Daniel, Civ. Wares, I. clxi. And *easie-yeelding zeale was quickly caught.

  D.  as sb.; see B. 4 b.