easy

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, pain, etc. [an easy life]

3. conducive to comfort or rest; comfortable [an easy chair]

4. fond of comfort, ease, or idleness

5. free from constraint; not stiff, awkward, or embarrassed [an easy manner]

6. not strict, harsh, or severe; lenient [easy terms]

7. readily influenced; compliant or credulous [an easy mark]

8.

a) unhurried; not fast [an easy pace]

b) not steep; gradual [an easy descent]

9.

a) in little demand: said of a commodity

b) lacking firmness in prices: said of a market

c) with funds plentiful and interest rates low: said of a money market

10. Informal consenting to sexual activity readily and, usually, indiscriminately

adv.

easier, easiest Informal

1. easily

2. slowly and carefully

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easy come, easy go

gotten and spent or lost with equal ease: implying a carefree attitude toward money

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easy does it!

Informal be careful! go slowly! etc.

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☆ easy on the eyes

Informal pleasant to look at; attractive

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☆ go easy on Informal

1. to use or consume with restraint [go easy on the paper]

2. to deal with leniently [to go easy on traffic violators]

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☆ on easy street

well-to-do; in easy circumstances

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take it easy Informal

1. to refrain from anger, haste, etc.

2. to refrain from hard work; relax; rest: Sometimes used as a farewell

SYN.- EASY is the broadest term here in its application to that which demands little effort or presents little difficulty [easy work ]; FACILE means occurring, moving, working, etc. easily and quickly, sometimes unfavorably suggesting a lack of thoroughness or depth [a facile style ]; EFFORTLESS, in contrast, favorably suggests expert skill or knowledge as responsible for performance that seems to require no effort [the effortless grace of the skater ]; SMOOTH suggests freedom from or riddance of irregularities, obstacles, or difficulties as bringing ease of movement [a smooth path to success ]; SIMPLE, in this connection, suggests freedom from complication or elaboration as making something easy to understand [a simple recipe ] -ANT. HARD, DIFFICULT