-eas-

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Eased [ from ] the putting off
These troublesome disguises which we wear. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sing, and I 'll ease thy shoulders of thy load. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To render less painful or oppressive; to mitigate; to alleviate. [ 1913 Webster ]

My couch shall ease my complaint. Job vii. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To entertain; to furnish with accommodations. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. made less severe or intense; mitigated.
Syn. -- alleviated, relieved. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet; comfortable; restful. Shak. -- Ease"ful*ly, adv. -- Ease"ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. ezel ass, donkey, hence, easel, or G. esel; akin to E. ass. See Ass. ] A frame (commonly) of wood serving to hold a canvas upright, or nearly upright, for the painter's convenience or for exhibition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Easel picture,
Easel piece, a painting of moderate size such as is made while resting on an easel, as distinguished from a painting on a wall or ceiling. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without ease. Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. aisement. See Ease, n. ] 1. That which gives ease, relief, or assistance; convenience; accommodation. [ 1913 Webster ]

In need of every kind of relief and easement. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A liberty, privilege, or advantage, which one proprietor has in the estate of another proprietor, distinct from the ownership of the soil, as a way, water course, etc. It is a species of what the civil law calls servitude. Kent. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) A curved member instead of an abrupt change of direction, as in a baseboard, hand rail, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ From Easy. ] 1. With ease; without difficulty or much effort; as, this task may be easily performed; that event might have been easily foreseen. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without pain, anxiety, or disturbance; as, to pass life well and easily. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Readily; without reluctance; willingly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not soon provoked, she easily forgives. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Smoothly; quietly; gently; gracefully; without &unr_;umult or discord. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Without shaking or jolting; commodiously; as, a carriage moves easily. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state or condition of being easy; freedom from distress; rest. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Freedom from difficulty; ease; as, the easiness of a task. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Freedom from emotion; compliance; disposition to yield without opposition; unconcernedness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Give to him, and he shall but laugh at your easiness. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Freedom from effort, constraint, or formality; -- said of style, manner, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

With painful care, but seeming easiness. Roscommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Freedom from jolting, jerking, or straining. [ 1913 Webster ]