The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Facilitate \Fa*cil"i*tate\ (f[.a]*s[i^]l"[i^]*t[=a]t), v. t.
   [imp. & p. p. Facilitated (f[.a]*s[i^]l"[i^]*t[=a]`t[e^]d);
   p. pr. & vb. n. Facilitating
   (f[.a]*s[i^]l"[i^]*t[=a]`t[i^]ng).] [Cf. F. faciliter. See
   Facility.]
   To make easy or less difficult; to free from difficulty or
   impediment; to lessen the labor of; as, to facilitate the
   execution of a task.
   [1913 Webster]

         To invite and facilitate that line of proceeding which
         the times call for.                      --I. Taylor.
   [1913 Webster]