ease

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Old French aise, of unknown origin. Earliest meaning was that of "elbow-room, opportunity". Conflicting forms in Romance point to an external, non-Latin origin. Possibly from a Celtic or Germanic source. Cf Breton eaz, ez "easy", Irish adhais "easy, leisure", Old English ēaþe "easy", Gothic azeti "ease", Gothic azets "easy"

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

Singular
ease

Plural
uncountable

ease (uncountable)

  1. The state of being comfortable or free from stress.
    She enjoyed the ease of living in a house where the servants did all the work.
  2. Freedom from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
    His mind was at ease when he received his pension.
  3. Freedom from effort, difficulty or hardship.
    He passed all the exams with ease.
  4. Dexterity or facility.
    He played the organ with ease.
  5. Affluence and freedom from financial problems.
    After winning the jackpot, she lived a life of luxurious ease.
  6. Relaxation, rest and leisure.
    We took our ease on the patio.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Translations

State of being comfortable or free from stress
Freedom from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
Freedom from effort, difficulty or hardship
Dexterity or facility
Affluence and freedom from financial problems
Relaxation, rest and leisure

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to ease

Third person singular
eases

Simple past
eased

Past participle
eased

Present participle
easing

to ease (third-person singular simple present eases, present participle easing, simple past and past participle eased)

  1. (transitive) To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
    He eased his conscience by confessing.
  2. (transitive) To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain).
    He loosened his shoe to ease the pain.
  3. (transitive) To give respite to (someone).
    The provision of extra staff eased their workload.
  4. (transitive) To loosen or slacken the tension on (something).
    We eased the rope, then lowered the sail.
  5. (transitive) To reduce the difficulty of (something).
    We had to ease the entry requirements.
  6. (transitive) To move (something) slowly and carefully.
    He eased the cork from the bottle.
  7. (intransitive) To lessen in severity.
    The pain eased overnight.
  8. (intransitive) To proceed with little effort.
    The car eased onto the motorway.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Translations

To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc
To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)
To give respite to (someone)
To loosen or slacken the tension on (something)
To reduce the difficulty of (something)
To move (something) slowly and carefully
To lessen in severity
To proceed with little effort
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