Facilitate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Facilitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Facilitating.]
Etymology: [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. To invite and facilitate that line of proceeding which the times call for. I. Taylor.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for facilitate; he lists it under quicken.
Where he writes about it:
To facilitate is to quicken by making easy; to expedite is to quicken by removing hindrances. — from quicken
A good general will improve roads to facilitate the movements of troops, hasten supplies and perfect discipline to promote the general efficiency of the force, despatch details of business, expedite all preparations, in order to accelerate the advance and victory of his army. — from quicken