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
(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.

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