easy
/ˈiːzi/
adjective
Origin
Latin
adiacens — situated near, adjacent
Overview
Meaning Now
- Achieved with little effort; requiring little work.
- Free from pain, trouble, or anxiety.
- Not strict or demanding; lenient.
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
eise
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word evolved from the Latin 'adiacens' (adjacent/convenient). In Old French, it shifted to 'aise' meaning comfort or convenience, which eventually entered Middle English as 'eise'. The modern sense of 'not difficult' developed gradually between the 14th and 16th centuries.
Evolution
- Latin
adiacens
“lying near, convenient”
Popular Latin form 'ad-jacens' evolved into 'aisier' in Old French.
- Old French
aisier
“at ease, comfortable”
- Middle English
eise
“comfortable, relaxed”
- English
easy
“not difficult”
Added suffix -y for adjectival form.
Connections
Word parts
eas
root
comfort
y
suffix
adjective forming
Related across languages
French
aise
comfort
Italian
agio
leisure/comfort
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Related to easy
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.