facilitate
UK[fəˈsɪl.ɪ.teɪt]US[fəˈsɪl.ə.teɪt]
v
to make an action or process easier or less difficult
v
to help bring about or lead to a particular outcome
Morpheme Breakdown
facil
itate
facil
easy
itate
verb-forming suffix
Etymology
the word facilitate originates from the latin verb 'facilitare', meaning 'to make easy', which itself derives from the adjective 'facilis' (easy). 'facilis' comes from the verb 'facere', meaning 'to do or make', combined with the suffix '-ilis' denoting capability, thus literally 'able to be done'. the modern english verb, entering the language in the early 17th century, retains this core logic: to facilitate is to cause a process or action to become easy to do. the suffix '-itate' is a common adaptation from latin past participle stems used to form english verbs indicating causation.
Analysis
Structure: facil (easy) + itate (verb-forming suffix)
facil (from latin 'facilis', meaning easy, doable); itate (a verb-forming suffix of latin origin, often via french, indicating to make or to cause to be)
Examples
the new software will facilitate smoother communication between departments.
a mediator was brought in to facilitate the negotiations.
good public transport facilitates urban living.