What do these French performance directions mean?

The sheet music for Debussy's 'Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum' (from 'Children's Corner') begins with the performance instruction



'茅gal et sans s茅cheresse'



Google unhelpfully translates this as 'equal and non-drought'. Can someone provide a more helpful translation?What do these French performance directions mean?
s茅cheresse in this case has nothing to do with a drought or dryness... it means harsh/harshness.



Also this is sheet music so 茅gal refers to pace or breathing.. so it means steady in this case.



Direct translation ~ steady and without harshness ...



Simple translation~ nice and easyWhat do these French performance directions mean?
"The beginning is marked 茅gal et sans s茅cheresse鈥攅ver没y and without dryness.The interpretation automatically forbids the use of brittle, percussive touches, or staccato."



I have taken the direct quote from the text to save hunting for it, but you can follow this ridiculously long link and do a search for the phrase yourself to read what else it has to say.What do these French performance directions mean?
the "dryness" here is what we would call curtness. So something is done or said evenly and without curtness.