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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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]

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)[reply]