facile
UK[ˈfæsaɪl]US[ˈfæsəl]
adj
(of an argument, theory, or statement) appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial.
adj
(especially of success in sports) easily achieved; effortless.
Morpheme Breakdown
fac
ile
fac
make, do
ile
adjective suffix meaning 'able to be, tending to'
Etymology
the word 'facile' entered english in the late 15th century from middle french, which borrowed it from latin 'facilis', meaning 'easy to do'. the latin 'facilis' itself derives from the verb 'facere' (to make, do) combined with the suffix '-ilis', which forms adjectives indicating capacity or tendency. the core semantic logic is that something which is easily 'done' or 'made' is therefore easy or simple. over time, particularly in english, the meaning developed a pejorative sense, shifting from merely 'easy' to 'achieved with too little effort' and thus 'superficial' or 'glib', reflecting a skepticism towards things that appear overly simple.
Analysis
Structure: fac (make, do) + ile (adjective suffix meaning 'able to be, tending to')
fac is from latin 'facere', meaning 'to make, to do'. ile is a latin adjectival suffix '-ilis', meaning 'pertaining to, able to be'.
Examples
he offered a facile solution to a deeply complex problem.
the victory was a facile one, as their opponents were severely underprepared.
critics dismissed her analysis as facile and lacking in depth.