They him besought Of harbor and or ease as for hire
penny. --Chaucer.
2. Freedom from anything that pains or troubles; as:
(a) Relief from labor or effort; rest; quiet; relaxation;
as, ease of body.
Usefulness comes by labor, wit by ease.
--Herbert.
Give yourself ease from the fatigue of watching.
--Swift.
(b) Freedom from care, solicitude, or anything that annoys
or disquiets; tranquillity; peace; comfort; security;
as, ease of mind.
Among these nations shalt thou find no ease.
--Deut.
xxviii. 65.
Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
--Luke xii.
19.
(c) Freedom from constraint, formality, difficulty,
embarrassment, etc.; facility; liberty; naturalness;
-- said of manner, style, etc.; as, ease of style, of
behavior, of address.
True ease in writing comes from art, not chance.
--Pope.
Whate'er he did was done with so much ease, In
him alone 't was natural to please. --Dryden.
{At ease}, free from pain, trouble, or anxiety. ``His soul
shall dwell at ease.'' --Ps. xxv. 12.
{Chapel of ease}. See under {Chapel}.
{Ill at ease}, not at ease, disquieted; suffering; anxious.
{To stand at ease} (Mil.), to stand in a comfortable attitude
in one's place in the ranks.
{With ease}, easily; without much effort.
Syn: Rest; quiet; repose; comfortableness; tranquility;
facility; easiness; readiness.
Eased [from] the putting off These troublesome
disguises which we wear. --Milton.
Sing, and I 'll ease thy shoulders of thy load.
--Dryden.
2. To render less painful or oppressive; to mitigate; to
alleviate.
My couch shall ease my complaint. --Job vii. 13.
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.
4. To entertain; to furnish with accommodations. [Obs.]
--Chaucer.
{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.