# ease

Pronunciation: say "EEZ" US /iz/, UK /iːz/

## Noun

1. Lack of difficulty in doing something; the quality of being able to do it easily.
   - Simple: The quality of being simple to do, without trouble or struggle.
   - _She handled the difficult questions with remarkable ease._
   - _The new software lets users edit their photos with ease._
2. Freedom from work or effort; a state of leisure and rest.
   - Simple: A relaxed time of rest, with no work or effort needed.
   - _He spent his Sundays in complete ease, dozing in the garden with a book._
   - _She longed for a few days of ease after the busy season._
3. Freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance; in archaic, derogatory use, idleness or sloth.
   - Simple: Being free from pain, hardship, and everyday troubles.
   - _Surrounded by every comfort, the old man passed his final years in untroubled ease._
   - _The settlers found ease at last after surviving the harsh winter._
10. Freedom from embarrassment or awkwardness in social situations; a natural, graceful manner.
   - Simple: A calm, confident way of behaving without feeling awkward.
   - _The host welcomed strangers with an ease that made them feel instantly comfortable._
   - _He handled the awkward question with the ease of a seasoned performer._
11. Freedom from worry and concern; peace of mind, which in archaic, derogatory use shaded toward indifference.
   - Simple: A peaceful state of mind, free from worry.
   - _Once the debt was cleared, a long-absent ease settled over the household._
   - _He spent his retirement in quiet ease, untroubled by deadlines._
12. Freedom from financial effort or worry; comfortable wealth.
   - Simple: A comfortable life with enough money to avoid worry.
   - _Her inheritance allowed her to live in ease for the rest of her life._
   - _The family enjoyed years of ease after the business prospered._
14. Release from or reduction of pain, hardship, or annoyance.
   - Simple: The end of or a drop in pain, trouble, or something annoying.
   - _The painkillers offered some ease from the constant aching._
   - _The ceasefire brought the villagers ease from years of fear._
15. Release from constraint, obligation, or a tightly confined position.
   - Simple: Freedom from a duty, a rule, or being stuck in a tight spot.
   - _After an hour at attention, the recruits were finally ordered to stand at ease._
   - _The soldiers felt the ease that came when the curfew was lifted._
16. Extra space built into a garment to allow freer movement.
   - Simple: Extra room in clothing so the body can move freely.
   - _The pattern adds two inches of ease across the chest for comfort._
   - _Without enough ease in the shoulders, the shirt pulls when you reach._

## Verb

4. To free a person or thing from pain, worry, agitation, or distress.
   - Simple: To take away someone's pain, worry, or stress.
   - _A few reassuring words can ease a patient's anxiety before surgery._
   - _The counselor worked to ease the grieving family's distress._
5. To move something slowly and carefully into or out of a position.
   - Simple: To move something slowly and gently, bit by bit.
   - _The movers carefully eased the piano through the doorway._
   - _Workers ease the steel beam into place using a crane._
6. To soothe or lessen the severity of physical pain or discomfort.
   - Simple: To make pain feel less strong or less sharp.
   - _The new treatment helped ease the patient's chronic back pain._
   - _Gentle massage eased the soreness in his shoulders._
7. To grow gradually less strong, severe, or intense.
   - Simple: To slowly become weaker or less strong.
   - _The storm finally eased as evening approached._
   - _Tensions between the two sides slowly ease over the following weeks._
8. To reduce the difficulty of doing or dealing with something.
   - Simple: To make a task easier or less hard to do.
   - _The software update eased the process of filing taxes online._
   - _Clear instructions ease the work of new employees._
9. To move or proceed smoothly and with little effort.
   - Simple: To move along smoothly without much effort.
   - _The runners eased into a comfortable pace after the first mile._
   - _Veteran drivers ease through the sharp curves without slowing much._
13. To give someone respite; to provide temporary relief from effort or trouble.
   - Simple: To give someone a short rest or relief from effort or strain.
   - _The volunteers came to ease the exhausted rescue workers._
   - _A weekend off eased the overworked staff._
17. To let out a little rope or line to reduce its tension.
   - Simple: To let out a rope a little so it is not so tight.
   - _Ease the mainsheet a little as the wind drops._
   - _The crew eased the halyard to bring the flag down._

## Noun

18. A convenience or luxury; something that adds comfort to life. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Something comfortable or luxurious that makes life more pleasant.
   - _The merchant's home wanted for no ease that fortune could provide._
   - _Travelers found at the inn every ease they had longed for on the road._
19. A relief or easement; an instance of being freed from a burden. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A relief that takes away trouble or pain.
20. A genteel word for relief of the bowels; defecation. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A polite word for emptying the bowels.

## Verb

21. To relieve a person of something, especially by robbing them. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To take something from a person, usually by stealing.
   - _The highwaymen would ease wealthy travelers of their jewels at gunpoint._
   - _He boasted that he had eased many a fine gentleman of his watch._

## Origin

"Ease" comes from Middle English "ese," borrowed through Anglo-Norman "ese" from Old French "eise" or "aise" ("elbow room; opportunity"), a word of uncertain and obscure origin. It is often traced to Vulgar Latin, perhaps from Latin "adjacēns" ("adjacent") or "ānsa" ("handle"), though the forms and senses are hard to follow; some suggest instead a Germanic or Celtic source. The verb comes from Middle English "esen," of the same ultimate origin.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/ease (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).