Word: ease Part of Speech: verb 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: /iːz/, /iz/ 1. To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc. Labels: transitive Example: He eased his conscience by confessing. Example: And ſure, although it was invented to eaſe his mynde of griefe, there be a number of caveats therein to forewarne other young gentlemen to foreſtand with good government their folowing yl fortunes; […] 2. To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain). Labels: transitive Example: Sunny / Yesterday my life was filled with rain / Sunny / You smiled at me and really eased the pain 3. To give respite to (someone). Labels: transitive Example: The provision of extra staff eased their workload. Example: An extra rush-hour train has eased overcrowding of the former 5.39 p.m. to Salisbury; this now leaves at 5.43 and an additional electric service to Alton departs at 5.39 p.m. 4. To loosen or slacken the tension on a line. Labels: transitive Example: We eased the boom vang, then lowered the sail. 5. To reduce the difficulty of (something). Labels: transitive Example: We had to ease the entry requirements. Example: I want to thank you all for easing my coming out. 6. To move (something) slowly and carefully. Labels: transitive Example: He eased the cork from the bottle. Example: Ease down off boulders; a jump may jar or sprain. 7. To lessen in intensity. Labels: intransitive Example: The pain eased overnight. 8. To proceed with little effort. Labels: intransitive Example: The car eased onto the motorway. 9. To reduce speed. Example: But from Northallerton No. 46143 reached 65½ m.p.h. by Otterington, 73 by Thirsk, 79½ by Pilmoor, and 82½ by Alne and was still accelerating when it was decided on the footplate that the train was getting too much ahead of time—and no wonder, with 40 min. allowed for the level 30.0 miles from Northallerton to York!—so that the engine was drastically eased. Example: "There's no other traffic on this line. We are 20 minutes ahead of time, so I'm easing back," says Waddicor as he approaches the crossing of HS2. 10. To take something from (a person), especially by robbery. Labels: archaic, slang, transitive Example: Coming up to the thief they eased him of his late acquisitions, which Redmond, restoring to the right owner, bound him over to prosecute the robber at the next assizes. Example: So I tucked my violin under my arm, and sallied out after the old budgy ragman, determined to ease him of his load at the very first lonesome corner I could track him to.