GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions 

  1.       

    Ease , n. [OE. ese, eise, F. aise; akin to Pr. ais, aise, OIt. asio, It. agio; of uncertain origin; cf. L. ansa handle, occasion, opportunity.  Cf. Agio, Disease.]
    1. Satisfaction; pleasure; hence, accommodation; entertainment. [Obs.]
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      They him besought
      Of harbor and or ease as for hire penny.
      Chaucer.

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    2. Freedom from anything that pains or troubles; as: (a) Relief from labor or effort; rest; quiet; relaxation; as, ease of body.
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      Usefulness comes by labor, wit by ease.
      Herbert.

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      Give yourself ease from the fatigue of watching.
      Swift.
      (b) Freedom from care, solicitude, or anything that annoys or disquiets; tranquillity; peace; comfort; security; as, ease of mind.
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      Among these nations shalt thou find no ease.
      Deut. xxviii. 65.

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      Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
      Luke xii. 19.
      (c) Freedom from constraint, formality, difficulty, embarrassment, etc.; facility; liberty; naturalness; -- said of manner, style, etc.; as, ease of style, of behavior, of address.
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      True ease in writing comes from art, not chance.
      Pope.

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      Whate'er he did was done with so much ease,
      In him alone 't was natural to please.
      Dryden.

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      At ease, free from pain, trouble, or anxiety. “His soul shall dwell at ease.” Ps. xxv. 12. -- Chapel of ease. See under Chapel. -- Ill at ease, not at ease, disquieted; suffering; anxious. -- To stand at ease (Mil.), to stand in a comfortable attitude in one's place in the ranks. -- With ease, easily; without much effort.
      Syn. -- Rest; quiet; repose; comfortableness; tranquillity; facility; easiness; readiness.
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  2.       

    Ease , v. t. &  i. [imp. & p. p. Eased ; p. pr. & vb. n. Easing.] [OE. esen, eisen, OF. aisier. See Ease, n.]
    1. To free from anything that pains, disquiets, or oppresses; to relieve from toil or care; to give rest, repose, or tranquillity to; -- often with of; as, to ease of pain; to ease the body or mind.
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      Eased [from] the putting off
      These troublesome disguises which we wear.
      Milton.

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      Sing, and I 'll ease thy shoulders of thy load.
      Dryden.

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    2. To render less painful or oppressive; to mitigate; to alleviate.
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      My couch shall ease my complaint.
      Job vii. 13.

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    3. To release from pressure or restraint; to move gently; to lift slightly; to shift a little; as, to ease a bar or nut in machinery.
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    4. To entertain; to furnish with accommodations. [Obs.]
      Chaucer.

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      To ease off, To ease away (Naut.), to slacken a rope gradually. -- To ease a ship (Naut.), to put the helm hard, or regulate the sail, to prevent pitching when closehauled. -- To ease the helm (Naut.), to put the helm more nearly amidships, to lessen the effect on the ship, or the strain on the wheel rope.
      Ham. Nav. Encyc.
      Syn. -- To relieve; disburden; quiet; calm; tranquilize; assuage; alleviate; allay; mitigate; appease; pacify.
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