easy

easy
easy c.1200, "at ease," from O.Fr. aisie "comfortable, at ease, rich, well-off" (Mod.Fr. aisé), pp. of aisier "to put at ease," from aise (see EASE (Cf. ease)). Sense of "not difficult to deal with" is mid-14c.; of conditions, "comfortable," late 14c. The concept of "not difficult" was expressed in O.E. and early M.E. by eaþe (adv.), ieþe (adj.), apparently common West Germanic, but of disputed origin. Easy Street first printed 1901 in "Peck's Red-Headed Boy." Easy money attested by 1896; to take it easy "relax" is from 1867; easy does it recorded by 1891. Easy rider (1912) was U.S. black slang for "sexually satisfying lover." The easy listening radio format is from 1965, defined by William Safire (in 1986) as, "the music of the 60's played in the 80's with the style of the 40's." Related: Easier; easiest.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • easy — [ē′zē] adj. easier, easiest [ME esi < OFr aisé, pp. of aisier (& aasié, pp. of aaisier < a + aisier) < aise: see EASE] 1. that can be done, got, mastered, endured, etc. with ease; not difficult; not exacting 2. free from trouble, anxiety …   English World dictionary

  • Easy — Eas y, a. [Compar. {Easier}; superl. {Easiest}.] [OF. aisi[ e], F. ais[ e], prop. p. p. of OF. aisier. See {Ease}, v. t.] 1. At ease; free from pain, trouble, or constraint; as: (a) Free from pain, distress, toil, exertion, and the like; quiet;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Easy — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda El término easy puede referirse: en música a: Almost Easy, canción de la banda Avenged Sevenfold; Easy, sencillo de las Sugababes; Easy listening, forma de música popular; Easy Star All Stars, grupo de reggae; Free… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Easy — may refer to: In Music: * Easy (Commodores song), a 1977 single ** Easy (Commodores song), Faith No More cover, a 1992 single * Easy (Barenaked Ladies song), a 2006 single * Easy (Sugababes song), a 2006 single * Easy (Paula DeAnda song), a 2007… …   Wikipedia

  • easy — adj 1 *comfortable, restful, cozy, snug Analogous words: *soft, lenient, gentle: commodious, *spacious: *calm, tranquil, serene, placid: unconstrained, spontaneous (see corresponding nouns at UNCONSTRAINT) Antonym …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • easy.TV — Senderlogo Allgemeine Informationen Empfang: Satellit Länder …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • easy — is established as an adverb in fixed expressions such as take it easy, have it easy, go easy on, easy does it, and stand easy. Otherwise its use as an adverb is non standard, though common informally in BrE as well as AmE, especially when… …   Modern English usage

  • easy — ► ADJECTIVE (easier, easiest) 1) achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties. 2) free from worry or problems. 3) lacking anxiety or awkwardness. 4) informal, derogatory willingly responsive to sexual advances. ► EXCLAMATION …   English terms dictionary

  • Easy FM — is a radio station in Beijing, China on 91.5 FM and Shanghai, China in 87.9 FM. It is a member of the China Radio International group of radio stations. The programs are in English, while the commercials are in Mandarin Chinese. Internet… …   Wikipedia

  • easy — [adj1] not difficult accessible, apparent, basic, child’s play*, cinch, clear, easily done, effortless, elementary, evident, facile, inconsiderable, light, little, manageable, manifest, mere, no bother*, no problem*, no sweat*, not burdensome,… …   New thesaurus

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