Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Facile

Foreword:
This word has a similar meaning (to one of the definitions) in French. I do not know if it has the same connotations, though. All I knew was that it meant "easy".

Definitions: 
Princeton says: 
  • arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth; "too facile a solution for so complex a problem"
  • performing adroitly and without effort; "a facile hand"
  • eloquent: expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively; "able to dazzle with his facile tongue"; "silver speech"
Webster says:
1
a (1) : easily accomplished or attained <a facile victory> (2): shallow, simplistic b : used or comprehended with easec : readily manifested and often lacking sincerity or depth<facile tears>
2
archaic : mild or pleasing in manner or disposition
3
a : ready, fluent <facile prose>b : poised, assured


My input:
1) effortlessly easy.
2) eloquent

Pretty self explanatory

Pronunciation: 
Fa as in fat. Cile is pronounced like sel in tassel.

Synonyms: 
eloquent, fluent, silver, silver-tongued, smooth-spoken
Princeton only provides synonyms for its third definition, so it seems that there are no synonyms for the exact connotation of the first two definitions. Or else, Idk.

Thoughts: 
The first two definitions of the Princeton one seem to be pretty much the same thing.
I did not expect the pronunciation to be what it is, because of the French word.

1 comment: