easiness

English

Etymology

From easy +‎ -ness.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈiːzɪnəs/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Noun

easiness (usually uncountable, plural easinesses)

1. Lack of difficulty; quality of not being frustrating, difficult, or dense (compact).
2. Looseness or pliancy, often derogatory
3. The state or quality of being easy (in various senses). particularly:
   1. Freedom from discomfort and worry: comfort.
   2. Freedom from inhibition and awkwardness: grace.
   3. Lack of concern or care: carelessness, indolence.
      • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , line 68:

        Custome hath made it in him a propertie of easines.

   4. Lack of difficulty or trouble: facility; simplicity.
      • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , line 153:

        […] Refraine night,
        And that shall lend a kind of easines
        To the next abstinence.

   5. Lack of harshness: gentleness, kindness.
   6. Lack of firm conviction: gullibility, credulity.
   7. State or quality of being promiscuous, of consenting readily to sex; sluttiness.

Translations

References

• Oxford English Dictionary. "easiness, n."