I. ˈēz noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English ese, from Old French aise comfort, opportunity, from Latin adjacent-, adjacens neighboring place, from adjacent-, adjacens, present participle of adjacēre to lie near — more at adjacent
1. : the state of being comfortable: as
a. : freedom from pain or discomfort
with all the ease of wearing an old, comfortable … dressing gown — H.V.Gregory
a special seat mounting for ease in riding — Motor Transportation in the West
b. : freedom from care or worry : tranquillity , security
ease of mind
there is ease in the family and in the village — Abram Kardiner
c. : freedom from labor, effort, inconvenience, or burden : relaxation
shallow waters where she could swim with ease — Agnes Repplier
she took her ease on Sunday
d. : freedom from embarrassment, constraint, or formality : naturalness
he experiences ease among his friends
with an ease of manner sportsmen are apt to have — A.W.Long
2. : relief from or mitigation of discomfort, pain, constraint, or obligation
the medicine brought almost instant ease
there seemed to him to be no ease from the burdens of life
3. : facility , effortlessness
she rides a horse with ease
especially : stylistic smoothness in literary or artistic expression
the ease and polish of the best 18th century English prose
4.
a. : easement 3
b. : an allowance of fullness that is usually placed across the back shoulders, over the bust, and about the hips in a garment to permit free motion of the body
5. : an act of easing (as of a restriction) or state of being eased (as of a market)
credit ease tends to promote buying
especially : a lowering trend in prices
the grain market showed considerable ease last week
Synonyms: see rest
•
- at ease
II. verb
( eased ; eased ; easing ; eases )
Etymology: Middle English esen, from Old French aaisier & aisier; Old French aaisier from a- (from Latin ad- ) + aisier, from aise, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to free from something that pains, disquiets, or burdens : relieve especially from toil or care
eased and comforted the sick
— usually used with of
let him ease you of your troubles
b. obsolete : to provide with food and lodging : entertain
c. : to take something away from easily : rob
a pickpocket slipped up and eased him of his purse
2. : to take away : lessen , alleviate
took an aspirin to ease the pain
we cannot ease taxes while every special interest demands more money
3.
a. : to lessen the pressure or tension of (as by slackening, lifting, or shifting)
ease the spring gently
: adjust by gradual movements so as to relieve strain or avoid injury or damage
easing himself into his chair
: maneuver gently or carefully
they eased the heavy block into position
— often used with a directional word
ease in that line
ease your clutch in slowly
he eased the bolt in carefully
b. : to moderate or reduce especially in amount, intensity, or rate of performance
easing the flow from the faucet until he could hear what she said
: make more gentle, gradual, or slow
eased his climb with a brief rest by the side of the path
often : to cause to slow down or stop
ease the car down to 20 miles an hour on this curve
c. : to adjust (fullness in a garment) by pulling, gathering, or pleating so that a longer and a shorter part join smoothly ; broadly : to provide (a garment) with requisite ease
4. : to make less difficult : facilitate
5.
a. : to bring (a ship) into position to meet a wave bow on (as by putting the helm alee or by regulating the sails)
b. : to let (a helm or rudder) come back a little after having been put hard over
intransitive verb
1. : to give freedom or relief (as from pain or discomfort) : lessen pain or oppressiveness
a hot bath often eases and relaxes
2. : to move or pass with freedom from abruptness or awkwardness or with little resistance — sometimes used with a directional word (as along, over )
3. : moderate , slacken , diminish ; also : stop , desist — now usually used with an expletive (as off, up )