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.
Meanings
(uncountable, usually) Lack of difficulty; the ability to do something easily.
Her young boy lifted a weight with ease too, as that one wasn't too heavy
The ease of lifting the weight, despite lack of skill, came from her pure strength.
He played the ukelele with ease.
The ease with which she passed all the exams surprised her.
(uncountable, usually) Comfort, a state or quality lacking unpleasantness ▸ Freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance, sometimes (derogatory, archaic) idleness, sloth.
She enjoyed the ease of living in a house where the servants did all the work.
(uncountable, usually) Comfort, a state or quality lacking unpleasantness ▸ Freedom from worry and concern; peace; sometimes (derogatory, archaic) indifference.
There is ease in the soul of Slid and there be calms upon the sea; also, there be storms upon the sea and troubles in the soul of Slid, for the gods have many moods. 1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 16:
The pension set her mind at ease.
(uncountable, usually) Comfort, a state or quality lacking unpleasantness ▸ Freedom from effort; leisure, rest.
We took our ease on the patio.
(uncountable, usually) Comfort, a state or quality lacking unpleasantness ▸ Freedom from financial effort or worry; affluence.
His inheritance catapulted him into a life of ease.
(uncountable, usually) Comfort, a state or quality lacking unpleasantness ▸ Freedom from embarrassment or awkwardness; grace.
She dealt with the faculty with combined authority and ease.
(uncountable, usually) Relief, an end to discomfort ▸ Followed by of or from: release from or reduction of pain, hardship, or annoyance.
Take one pill every 12 hours to provide ease from pain.
(euphemistic, obsolete, uncountable, usually) Relief, an end to discomfort ▸ Release from intestinal discomfort: defecation.
(uncountable, usually) Relief, an end to discomfort ▸ Release from constraint, obligation, or a constrained position.
At ease, soldier!
(uncountable, usually) Relief, an end to discomfort ▸ Additional space provided to allow greater movement.
Add some ease to the waist measurement.
(obsolete, uncountable, usually) A convenience; a luxury.
(obsolete, uncountable, usually) A relief; an easement.
hu kényelem (comfort — see also comfort) · hu ügyesség (ability — see also ability) · grc ῥᾳθυμία (relaxation) · hu megnyugvás (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · gl facilidade (ability — see also ability) · pt à-vontade (ability — see also ability) · es soltura (freedom from effort) · sga sádaile (comfort — see also comfort) · ga éascaíocht (ability — see also ability) · hi सहजता (ability — see also ability) · hu jólét (relaxation) · de Muße (freedom from effort) · ky жеңилдик (ability — see also ability) · hu könnyedség (freedom from effort) · ru облегче́ние (freedom from effort) · fi taito (ability — see also ability) · ru пра́здность (relaxation) · la habilitas (ability — see also ability) · hu lazítás (relaxation) · cs pohoda (comfort — see also comfort) · de Bequemlichkeit (comfort — see also comfort) · ru о́тдых (relaxation) · got 𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐌹 (comfort — see also comfort) · ru лёгкость (freedom from effort) · az asanlıq (ability — see also ability) · bg лекота (freedom from effort) · fi lepo (relaxation) · fr facilité (ability — see also ability) · got 𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐌹 (freedom from effort) · ru споко́йствие (comfort — see also comfort) · es facilidad (freedom from effort) · ru непринуждённость (freedom from effort) · fi helppous (freedom from effort) · es soltura (relaxation) · ga aosáid (freedom from effort) · ro pace (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · sv lätthet (ability — see also ability) · de Mühelosigkeit (ability — see also ability) · ro ușurință (freedom from effort) · bg спокойствие (comfort — see also comfort) · fi mukavuus (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · de Leichtigkeit (freedom from effort) · pt facilidade (freedom from effort) · ro facilitate (ability — see also ability) · it riposo (relaxation) · bg непринуденост (freedom from effort) · bg безгрижие (comfort — see also comfort) · gl confort (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · ru досу́г (relaxation) · hi सरलता (ability — see also ability) · hu könnyebbség (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · ro dexteritate (ability — see also ability) · es para facilitar (ability — see also ability) · de Behaglichkeit (comfort — see also comfort) · ru лёгкость (ability — see also ability) · ga sómas (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · ga sástacht (comfort — see also comfort) · de Unbeschwertheit (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · hu rátermettség (ability — see also ability) · hu megkönnyebbülés (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · ru беззабо́тность (relaxation) · de Leichtigkeit (comfort — see also comfort) · eo facileco (ability — see also ability) · ro repaus (relaxation) · hu kikapcsolódás (relaxation) · pt habilidade (ability — see also ability) · fi mukavuus (freedom from effort) · got 𐌰𐌶𐌴𐍄𐌹 (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · hu nyugalom (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · fi mukavuus (comfort — see also comfort) · ro confort (comfort — see also comfort) · ro liniște (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · fi kyky (ability — see also ability) · es relajo (relaxation) · pt facilidade (ability — see also ability) · pt conforto (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · ru поко́й (comfort — see also comfort) · de Leichtigkeit (ability — see also ability) · ru непринуждённость (ability — see also ability) · sq lehtësi (ability — see also ability) · sga sádailecht (comfort — see also comfort) · fi helppous (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · pt comodidade (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · fr repos (relaxation) · ro ușurare (freedom from effort) · fi rauhallisuus (freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance) · pdt Jemak (freedom from effort) · hu jártasság (ability — see also ability) · pt conforto (comfort — see also comfort) · it facilità (ability — see also ability)
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.
Meanings
(transitive) To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
Elyse Saugstad, a professional skier, wore a backpack equipped with an air bag, a relatively new and expensive part of the arsenal that backcountry users increasingly carry to ease their minds and increase survival odds in case of an avalanche. 2012 December 26, John Branch, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Nov 2013:
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; […] 1576, George Whetstone, “The Ortchard of Repentance: […]”, in The Rocke of Regard, […], London: […] [H. Middleton] for Robert Waley, →OCLC; republished in J[ohn] P[ayne] Collier, editor, The Rocke of Regard, […] (Illustrations of Early English Poetry; vol. 2, no. 2), London: Privately printed, [1867?], →OCLC, page 291:
He eased his conscience by confessing.
(transitive) To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain).
Sunny / Yesterday my life was filled with rain / Sunny / You smiled at me and really eased the pain 1976, Boney M., “Sunny”, in Take the Heat off Me:
(transitive) To give respite to (someone).
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. 1961 October, “The winter timetables of British Railways: Southern Region”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 593–594:
The provision of extra staff eased their workload.
(transitive) To loosen or slacken the tension on a line.
We eased the boom vang, then lowered the sail.
(transitive) To reduce the difficulty of (something).
I want to thank you all for easing my coming out. 1974 April 6, 'Paul', “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, page 8:
We had to ease the entry requirements.
(transitive) To move (something) slowly and carefully.
Giant oil-tankers can often be seen easing up and down Milford Haven, where a vast new port has been developed since the late 1950s. 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 141:
Ease down off boulders; a jump may jar or sprain. 1915 April 14, Enos A. Mills, “Going to the Top”, in The Rocky Mountain Wonderland, Houghton Mifflin, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 18:
He eased the cork from the bottle.
(intransitive) To lessen in intensity.
The pain eased overnight.
(intransitive) To proceed with little effort.
The car eased onto the motorway.
To reduce speed.
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. 1958 December 14, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 852:
"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. 2025 August 20, Paul Clifton, “A driver's eye view of East West Rail”, in RAIL, number 1042, page 33:
(archaic, slang, transitive) To take something from (a person), especially by robbery.
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. 1865, The Dublin University Magazine, volume 66, page 158:
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. 1876, The Shamrock, volume 14:
slacken (loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · loosen (loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · reduce (lessen in severity) · facilitate (reduce the difficulty of (something)) · salve (free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · simplify (reduce the difficulty of (something)) · lessen (lessen in severity) · relax (loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · allay (alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · assuage (alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · lessen (alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · reduce (alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · alleviate (alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · give someone a break (give respite to (someone)) · cruise (proceed with little effort) · lay off (give respite to (someone)) · assuage (free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc)
Translations (95)
es introducir gradualmente (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · fi sujahtaa (to proceed with little effort) · fi helpottaa (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · hu megkönnyít (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · hu könnyít (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · fi höllätä (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · hu enyhít (to give respite to (someone)) · ro potoli (to lessen in severity) · bg облекчавам (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · it attenuare (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · mi mauru (to lessen in severity) · pl ułatwić (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · ro ușura (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · de Abstriche machen bei (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · ro micșora (to lessen in severity) · ru облегча́ть (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · hu könnyít (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · de erleichtern (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · ro reduce (to lessen in severity) · de lindern (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · es mover paulatinamente (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · hu enyhít (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · de dahinschleichen (to proceed with little effort) · mi whakangāwari (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · de mildern (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · ru смягча́ть (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · de verringern (to lessen in severity) · fi helpottaa (to lessen in severity) · de lockern (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · ro liniști (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · fr soulager (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · de vermindern (to lessen in severity) · hu megkönnyít (to give respite to (someone)) · es aflojar (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · ru успока́ивать (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · de entlasten (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · es aflojar delicadamente (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · fr abréger (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · de losmachen (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · fr abaisser (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · ru отпуска́ть (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · hu enyhül (to lessen in severity) · mi whakangāwari (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · mi whakaeaea (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · fi keventää (to give respite to (someone)) · de lockern (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · hu csillapít (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · ro ușura (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · fi höllätä (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · de verringern (to give respite to (someone)) · hu kilazít (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · ru облегча́ть (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · bg облекчавам (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · hu csusszan (to proceed with little effort) · de entlasten (to give respite to (someone)) · fi lievittää (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · de lockern (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · bg отпускам (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · es posar (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · sq lehtëso (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · ru освобожда́ть (to give respite to (someone)) · sq shëro (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · fi kulkea (to proceed with little effort) · hu csillapodik (to lessen in severity) · es cantear (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · ota قولایلامق (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · fi lievittää (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · mi whakangāwari (to lessen in severity) · hu elernyeszt (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · mi whakamauru (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · es soltar lentamente (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · bg успокоявам (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · pl ułatwiać (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · hu csúsztat (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · de nachlassen (to lessen in severity) · de erleichtern (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · ru ослабля́ть (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · pt aliviar (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · fi hivuttaa (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · fi löysentää (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · hu meglazít (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · de lösen (to move (something) slowly and carefully) · fi löysätä (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · ro alina (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · fr amoindrir (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)) · ru облегча́ть (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · es aliviar (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · de beruhigen (to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc) · ru уменьша́ть (to lessen in severity) · fi helpottaa (to give respite to (someone)) · es acostumbrar (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · hu lazít (to loosen or slacken the tension on (something)) · el διευκολύνω (to reduce the difficulty of (something)) · fi lieventyä (to lessen in severity) · ro alina (to alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain))