Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2013 June 9

= June 9 =

"the more easily"
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.  -- Jayron  32  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)