Definitions and meaning of ease
ease
English
Etymology
From Middle English ese, eise, aise, from Anglo-Norman ese (“ease”), from Old French eise, aise (“elbow room; opportunity”), of uncertain and obscure origin. Apparently related to Provençal ais, Italian agio and asio, Sicilian aciu and Portuguese azo. Sometimes ascribed to Vulgar Latin *āsia or *āsium, possibly from Latin ānsa (“handle, haft”) or Frankish *ansiju (“handle, loophole, eyelet; cup-handle; arms akimbo, elbow room”), but more often derived from Vulgar Latin *adjace(m), from Latin adjacēns (“adjacent, neighbouring”), present participle of adjaceō (“lie next to, border on”), though the forms and senses are difficult to trace clearly.
Alternatively, possibly from a non-Latin source such as Germanic or Celtic on the basis of the conflicting forms which appear in various Romance languages. Compare Old English īeþe (“easy”), Gothic 𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐌹 (azēti, “ease; pleasure”), *𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐍃 (*azēts, “easy”), Breton eaz, ez (“easy”), Irish adhais (“easy; leisure”). See also eath.
The verb is from Middle English esen, ultimately of the same origin.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /iːz/
- (US) enPR: ēz, IPA(key): /iz/
- Rhymes: -iːz
- Homophones: ees, E's, 'e's
Noun
ease (uncountable)
- Lack of difficulty; the ability to do something easily.
- Synonyms: easiness, facility
- Antonym: difficulty
- Comfort, a state or quality lacking unpleasantness, particularly:
- Synonyms: comfort, peace
- Freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance, sometimes (derogatory, archaic) idleness, sloth.
- Synonyms: indolency, inexertion
- Freedom from worry and concern; peace; sometimes (derogatory, archaic) indifference.
- Synonym: peace of mind
- Freedom from effort; leisure, rest.
- Synonyms: free time, leisure, relaxation, rest
- Freedom from financial effort or worry; affluence.
- Synonyms: fortune, plenty; see also Thesaurus:wealth
- Freedom from embarrassment or awkwardness; grace.
- Synonyms: aplomb, composure, poise, sangfroid
- Relief, an end to discomfort, particularly:
- Followed by of or from: release from or reduction of pain, hardship, or annoyance.
- Synonyms: liss, solace; see also Thesaurus:consolation
- (euphemistic, obsolete) Release from intestinal discomfort: defecation.
- Synonyms: call of nature, easement; see also Thesaurus:defecation
- Release from constraint, obligation, or a constrained position.
- (clothing) Additional space provided to allow greater movement.
- (obsolete) A convenience; a luxury.
- Synonym: amenity
- (obsolete) A relief; an easement.
- Synonyms: alleviation, mitigation
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
Verb
ease (third-person singular simple present eases, present participle easing, simple past and past participle eased)
- (transitive) To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
- (transitive) To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain).
- (transitive) To give respite to (someone).
- (nautical, transitive) To loosen or slacken the tension on a line.
- (transitive) To reduce the difficulty of (something).
- (transitive) To move (something) slowly and carefully.
- (intransitive) To lessen in intensity.
- (intransitive) To proceed with little effort.
- (transitive, slang, archaic) To take something from (a person), especially by robbery.
Synonyms
- (free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc): assuage, salve
- (alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)): allay, alleviate, assuage, lessen, reduce
- (give respite to (someone)): give someone a break (informal), lay off (informal)
- (loosen or slacken the tension on (something)): loosen, relax, slacken
- (reduce the difficulty of (something)): facilitate, simplify
- (lessen in severity): lessen, reduce
- (proceed with little effort): cruise
Derived terms
Translations
References
Anagrams
Middle English
Noun
ease
- alternative form of ese
Source: wiktionary.org