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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Facile, Facil(l, a. and adv. Also: facyll, fac(c)ell. [e.m.E. facile, late ME. facyle (1483), F. facile, L. facilis adj., facile adv.]

1. adj. Easy to do or deal with. 1513 Doug. vi. ii. 91.
It is richt facil and eith gait 1531 Bell. Boece I. 19.
Than sall ye be ane facill. pray to your ennimes Ib. 106.
The pepill, with facill lauboure, wes sone dantit 1551 Hamilton Cat. 5.
Nathing … apperis … mair facil … than the office of ane bischop a1578 Pitsc. I. 127/27.
Quhilk maid ane facell pethway … to obtene the wictorie

b. Easy to understand or learn. 1570 Leslie 4.
Sic buikes as are maist facile 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 39/1.
Gyf the scripture be so facill as ye teache it to be 1600 Hamilton, title-p.
A facill traictise 1633 Acts V. 68/2.
The short and facile grammar

2. Of persons: Easily moved, incited, or influenced; yielding readily to persuasion. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 18.
Now ye have experience, how facill the Britonis bene to move new trubill Id. Livy I. 179.
Gif the sade Latynis gat ony victorie, thai mycht be more facill to rebellioun 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 273.
Ane woman fregill and facill of natur a1578 Pitsc. II. 3/13.
The earle of Arrane quho was … faccell and inconstant Ib. 12/2.
[He] that was sa facillin brekin of his promeis

3. adv. Easily. 1533 Boece xi. xii. 429 b.
That scho mycht mare facile circumvene the king c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 80.
The nine Musis … mair facill ȝour mater will consaif Fra time that thay heir ȝour enarrative