Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
EASY, adj., adv. Sc. usages. See also Aisy.
I. adj.
1. Used pred., followed by the gerund, instead of the inf. as in Eng. Cf. Ill, adj. 9. The adv. easily is rarely found in this construction.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xi.:
“Weel, madam”, said Mysie, making the alterations required, “it's easy mending the error.”Sc. 1887 R. L. Stevenson Underwoods 98:
O, I wad like to ken — to the beggar-wife says I — . . . — It's gey an' easy spierin', says the beggar-wife to me.m.Sc. 1915 J. Buchan Thirty-Nine Steps 111:
“It's easy speakin',” he moaned.Gsw. 1858 G. Roy Generalship (1895) 18:
It was easily kenning he was in a different mood.
2. Phrs. and Comb.: (1) easy bed, a lazy-bed, for potatoes, etc. (Rs., Mry. 1949 (per Fif.17)); (2) to be easy, to be well pleased, to be satisfied; (3) to have easy, followed by the gerund = to have no difficulty in . . .; for exs. see Hae, v. II. 2 (4).(2) Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 356:
“Will you try a glass of it now, James?” . . . “I'm easy. But Miss Gentle 'll pree't.”Sc. 1861 C. Rogers Sc. Character 204:
The peasant boy of Fifeshire who intends to indicate his ready acceptance of a favour, does so by saying “I'm easy” — meaning that he is well pleased, and has a full appreciation of the boon.
3. Of a current: slack, flowing gently. Per. 1824 Farmer's Mag. (Feb.) 76:
At first, they [salmon fry on way to sea] keep near the margin of the river, avoiding the current of the mid stream as too impetuous, and seeking what fishermen call the easy-water at the side.
II. adv. Easily.Gsw. 1936 George Friel in Moira Burgess and Hamish Whyte Streets of Stone (1985) 4:
'He could easy have got her a better house than that,' said Mrs Stevenson, supportingly.
