Ease Definition
- In a relaxed position, especially standing silently at rest with the right foot stationary:
put the soldiers at ease while waiting for inspection.
- Used as a command for troops to assume a relaxed position.
- having no anxiety, pain, or discomfort
- to tactfully persuade (an employee, tenant, etc.) to leave
- to reduce the angle the rudder makes with the fore-and-aft line so that the vessel will turn more gradually
- to relax and be comfortable
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Ease
- at ease
- at ease
- ease out
- ease the rudder
- take one's ease
Origin of Ease
-
From Middle English ese, eise (“ease”), from Anglo-Norman ese (“ease”), Old French aise, eise (“convenience, leisure, comfort”), of unknown origin. Earliest meaning was that of "empty space, elbow-room, opportunity". Conflicting forms in Romance point to an external, non-Latin origin . Probably from a Germanic or Celtic source. Compare Old English ēaþe (“easy”), Gothic (azēti, “ease, pleasure”), Gothic (azēts, “easy”), Breton eaz, ez (“easy”), Irish adhais (“easy, leisure”). See also eath.
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English ese from Old French aise elbowroom, physical comfort from Vulgar Latin adiacēs, adiac- adiac- alteration of Latin adiacēns, adiacent- present participle of adiacēre to lie near adjacent
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Find Similar Words
Find similar words to ease using the buttons below.