Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2013 June 9
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June 9 edit
"the more easily" edit
What is going on with "the" in this sentence:
"That they might run the more easily."
or this one:
"So we can do it all the more easily."
?? Wrad (talk) 20:09, 9 June 2013 (UTC)
- Assume it's the same as in "the more the merrier", but with adverb as linguistic head... AnonMoos (talk) 20:45, 9 June 2013 (UTC)
- Seems a similar structure to All the better to see you with. Not sure what this is called, but it is not an uncomfortable English construction. --Jayron32 21:44, 9 June 2013 (UTC)
- The Bible: "… and that they might the better know the men he spoke of".
- And here’s a charming thought: "... that they might the better know how to conquer and kill their enemies, and not be easily fatigued by doing so".
- All the best to you and your family. -- Jack of Oz [Talk] 00:49, 10 June 2013 (UTC)
- Our article the says it is used in comparisons such as the bigger the better, with a slightly different etymology, but it doesn't give a source or link. Wiktionary advises its an instrumental form The etymology 2. This comports with my memory of looking this up decades ago. μηδείς (talk) 00:50, 10 June 2013 (UTC)