Forms: 3 eaise, ays, esse, (4 hess, hayse), 3–4 eise, ais, 3–6 es(e, 4 ess, eyss, 4–5 eyse, ayse, 5 aiese, (hesse), 6 eas, (Sc.) eais, eis, 4– ease. [a. OF. eise, aise (mod. aise) fem., cogn. w. Pr. ais, It. agio (formerly also asio), Pg. azo masc.; late L. type *asia, *asium, of uncertain origin.
The earliest senses of Fr. aise appear to be: 1. elbow-room (‘espace libre aux côtés de quelqu’un,’ A. Darmesteter, from Heb.-Fr. gloss 11th c.); 2. opportunity. It has been suggested by Bugge that *asia, *asium may be f. āsa, a recorded vulgar form of L. ansa handle, used fig. in sense ‘opportunity, occasion.’ With reference to the sense ‘elbow-room’ it is remarked that ansātus ‘furnished with handles’ is used in Lat. for ‘having the arms a-kimbo.’ This is not very satisfactory, but it does not appear that any equally plausible alternative has yet been proposed. Connection with EATH is impossible.]
† I. 1. Opportunity, means or ability to do something (cf. EASY a. 1).
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 288. Ȝif þer were eise uorto fulfullen þe dede.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 17. Man seið þat eise makeð þeof.
a. 1500. Life St. Katherine (Halliwell, 1848), 2. The riche come … and broghte with them ryches moche, And the pore come also And after there ese broght tho.
II. Comfort, absence of pain or trouble.
2. Comfort, convenience; formerly also, advantage, profit, and in stronger sense, pleasure, enjoyment. To take one’s ease: to make oneself comfortable. † To do (a person) ease: to give pleasure or assistance to. † To be (a person’s) ease: to be pleasing, convenient, advantageous.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 114. Gruccheð ȝif heo naueð nout oðer mete oðer drunch efter hire eaise.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 28. I-se swote eise wiðute swuch trubuil.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 22773. Werldis worschip … siluer and gold and esse [F. ese, C. es, Edinb. ais] of lijf.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, III. 623. Bot mycht nane eyss let hyr to think On the king, that sa sar wes stad.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 35. The woundes of his malady They [i.e., the hounds] licken for to done him ese.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xlvi. (1495), 807. Them that liue delycately and in ease and reste.
c. 1400. Cato’s Mor., 199, in Cursor M., p. 1672. Quen þou art in gode ese . þou þink on misese.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7500. We wolden, if it were your ese … A short sermon unto you seyne.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lxx. 386 (Add. MS.). I wil neþer selle it … for the aiese that it dothe me.
1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., xxviii. Preamb., His Highnes is not mynded for the eas of his subgiectes … of longe tyme to calle … a newe parliament.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. cccxcvii. 686. It was nat his ease to come to Tourney as at that tyme.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 653. He levis weill that levis into eis.
a. 1555. Latimer, Wks., 1845, II. 479. Latimer:—‘Good master Prolocutor, do not exact that of me which is not in me.’ Prolocutor:—‘Take your ease.’ Latimer:—‘I thank you, sir, I am well.’
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. i. 131. Any good thing … That may to thee do ease; and grace to me.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxx. 184. The ease, and benefit the Subjects may enjoy.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 234. The General could not live in it to his ease.
1825. T. Jefferson, Autobiog., Wks. 1859, I. 4. The portion which came … to Mrs. Jefferson … doubled the ease of our circumstances.
1841–4. Emerson, Ess. Manners, Wks. (Bohn), I. 205. The popular notion [of a gentleman] certainly adds a condition of ease and fortune.
1870. Hawthorne, Eng. Note-bks. (1879), II. 217. The occasional ease of rustic seats.
† b. concr. A convenience, gratification, luxury.
1393. Gower, Conf., II. 38. Idelnesse … secheth eses many folde.
1484–5. Caxton, Curial, 3 b. Noman preyseth ynough the ayses that he hath in hys pryuate and propre hous.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 81. She can cause her prelate to dispence with her to haue suche pleasures & eases.
1629. Parkinson, Paradisi in sole (1656), 5. A Fountain in the midst … to serve as an ease to water the nearest parts thereunto.
a. 1631. Donne, Serm. (1640), xxxix. 384. Vriah … refused to take the eases of his own house.
3. Absence of pain or discomfort; freedom from annoyance.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 358. Nis he a kang knit þet secheð reste iðe nihte, and eise iðe place?
a. 1300. Havelok, 59. Þanne was engelond at hayse.
1597. T. Morley, Introd. Mus., 55. I wish you such contentment of minde, and ease of bodie as you desire to your selfe, or mothers vse to wish to their children.
1657. S. Purchas, Pol. Flying Ins., 276. There were more ease in a nest of Hornets, then under this one torture.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 80, ¶ 1. They now no longer enjoyed the Ease of Mind and pleasing Indolence in which they were formerly happy.
1750. Johnson, Rambl., No. 85, ¶ 4. Ease, a neutral state between pain & pleasure.
1792. Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 1. The horrid scenes … hardly leave one ease enough of heart or clearness of head to put down any thing … on paper to you.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, II. ii. (1880), II. 16. He wanted a little ease … after the agitation and exertions of the day.
4. Absence of painful effort; freedom from the burden of toil; leisure; in bad sense, idleness, sloth.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 110. He loveth ese, he loveth rest, So he is nought the worthiest.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 143. Ese, or reste, quies.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 138. Ease breedeth vice.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 184/55.
| The Sire of Gods and Men, with hard Decrees, | |
| Forbids our Plenty to be bought with Ease. |
1871. R. Ellis, Catullus, li. 15/34. Ease hath entomb’d princes of old renown and Cities of honour.
b. Facility as opposed to difficulty. Chiefly in phrase, with ease.
1610. Shaks., Temp., III. i. 30. I should do it With much more ease.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 137/126.
| With ease distinguish’d is the Regal Race, | |
| One Monarch wears an honest open Face. |
1737. Pope, Hor. Epist., II. i. 108. The mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease.
1856. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., III. IV. xvi. § 27. Another … test of greatness is … the appearance of Ease with which the thing is done.
1868. Tennyson, Lucretius, 174. Seeing with how great ease Nature can smile.
c. Indifference, unconcern; absence of hesitation or scruple.
1808. Bentham, Sc. Reform, 2. In your lordship it beholds its patron and introducer; the author, it is matter of ease to me not to know.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. viii. 661. Where the Governor-General spoke of pensions with so much ease, he well knew, that in the circumstances…, a pension … little or nothing differed from a name.
5. Freedom from constraint; an unconstrained position or attitude; esp. in Mil. phrase, To stand at ease: see quot.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., Ease … signifies a prescribed relaxation of the frame from the erect and firm position which every well-dressed soldier should assume…. To stand at Ease … is to draw the right foot back about six inches, and to bring the greatest part of the weight of the body upon it.
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, III. i. 15. His usual ‘stand at ease,’ position.
1833. Regul. Instr. Cavalry, I. 43. Stand at Ease. Ibid., 61. Sit at Ease.
1853. Stocqueler, Milit. Encycl., s.v. Stand, To stand at ease is to be allowed … a certain indulgence with regard to bodily position, with or without arms.
6. Freedom from embarrassment or awkwardness in social behavior.
1750. Johnson, Rambl., No. 157, ¶ 8. Enabled me to discourse with ease and volubility.
a. 1764. Lloyd, Whim. Wears his own mirth with native ease.
1832. Ht. Martineau, Hill & Valley, iv. 65. Mrs. Wallace envied Mrs. Sydney the ease and kindness with which she conversed.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., III. 469. A certain graceful ease which marks him as a man who knows the world.
1863. Froude, Hist. Eng., VIII. 91. She … moved about among the dignitaries of the University, with combined authority and ease.
7. Phrases (senses 1–6). a. At ease, at one’s ease, † well at ease: in comfort, without anxiety or annoyance, unconstrained, unembarrassed; formerly also, in comfortable circumstances, well-to-do. b. Ill († evil) at ease: uncomfortable, uneasy. † c. Little ease: used as a name for a prison-cell too small to permit the person occupying it to assume a comfortable position.
a. a. 1300. Cursor M., 13136. All war sett and ete at esse. Ibid., 17651. He was gestind ful wele at ais.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 228. He levys at ess that frely levys.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxii. 397. Galashin was not all at his ese, ffor he was yet a-monge the horse feet.
1535. Coverdale, Hosea ii. 7. I will go turne agayne to my first huszbonde, for at yt tyme was I better at ease, then now.
1668–9. Marvell, Corr., cix. Wks. 1872–5, II. 268. If … you have given us a rule to walke by, our discretion will be more at ease.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, II. V. 210. Monied men…: amongst whom his Majesty conceiving the Duke of Esperon to be one the most at his ease, [etc.].
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 106, ¶ 2. I am the more at Ease in Sir Roger’s Family, because it consists of sober and staid Persons.
1821. Syd. Smith, Lett., cc. An old Aunt has … left me an estate … this puts me a little at my ease.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 27. 202. We all felt more at ease when a safe footing was secured.
1868. E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. xxiv. 564. He felt much more at his ease in the saddle than afoot.
b. a. 1300. Cursor M., 16119. Mi wyf es sumquat iuel at ess [v.r. ese].
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour (1868), 59. She … was of euelle atte ease in this worlde.
1483. Vulg. abs Terentio, 2 a. Iii. or .iiii. days ȝitt j was euyll att ese in my hede.
1642. T. Taylor, God’s Judgem., I. I. xx. 70. He feigned himselfe to be evill at ease.
1832. Tennyson, Miller’s Dau., xix. You were ill at ease … Too fearful that you should not please.
c. 1690. W. Walker, Idiomat. Anglo-Lat., 156. A little ease (i. e. a prison).
1829. Heath, Grocer’s Comp. (1869), 92, note. Little Ease was a place of confinement for unruly apprentices; it was situated in the Guildhall.
III. Relief, alleviation. [Somewhat influenced by the verb.]
8. Relief or mitigation of pain or discomfort; release from an annoyance. Const. from, of.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., viii. § 1. Surgions … mindinge onely their owne lucres, & nothing the profit or ease of the disesed or pacient.
1588. Allen, Admon., 17. Sum little ease and release of the intollerable feares and miseries that they liue in.
1702. J. Purcell, Cholick (1714), 103. The Patient breaks much Wind upwards and downwards, and finds Ease thereby.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 61. That positive enjoyment, which sudden ease from pain … affords.
1775. Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 61. That a great man may get ease from importunity.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 112. Liberate him, said the King, and give us ease.
b. † To do one’s ease: to relieve the bowels. So seat, † house of ease.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1655), I. § 1. xviii. 28. It happen’d the King was coming from doing his Ease.
1731. Swift, Strephon & Chloe, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 157. Had you but through a cranny spied, On house of ease your future bride.
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 143. Round-house at the Head. Conveniences or seats of ease for the officers.
c. Chapel of Ease: see CHAPEL. So also (humorously) court of ease, theatre of ease: one provided to relieve the crowding in a larger building.
1779. Sheridan, Critic, I. i. Make the stage a court of ease to the old Bailey.
1796. J. Owen, Trav. Europe, II. 429. It seems a sort of theatre of ease to that called the National.
9. Relief from constraint or pressure; abrogation or alleviation of a burden or obligation; † redress of grievances. † Writ of ease: a certificate of discharge from employment; transf. a ‘bill of divorcement.’
1576. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 107. Hastings, Dover, Hithe [etc.] … were the first Ports of priviledge … although … divers other places also (for the ease of their charge) be crept in.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1345/2. Thus was justice ministred, and that execution to Gods glorie, & the ease of the common wealths greefe dispatched.
1643. Milton, Divorce, II. xvi. (1851), 103. Salomith … sent a writ of ease to her husband; which, as Josephus there attests, was lawfull only to men.
1647–8. Cotterell, Davila’s Hist. Fr. (1678), 17–8. Having till then tryed gentle pleasant remedies, and found no ease by them.
1679–1714. Burnet, Hist. Ref. (1715), I. 49. The great mischiefs that might follow, if Princes got not justice and ease from the Apostolick See.
1693. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 519/2. He hath a writ of ease given him; Rude donatus est.
† 10. concr. (from 8, 9): An act or means of relieving pain or discomfort, of giving relaxation from burdens, an easement, relief. Obs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 143. Ese, or cowmfort, levamen, consolamen.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xii. (1632), 275. Eases of griefes he reposeth … in calling from the thought of offence.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. x. 56. Till then, Ile sweate, and seeke about for eases.
1701. J. Law, Counc. Trade (1751), 172. This ease … of the industry, would chiefly and principally fall on the lands by two several ways.
a. 1718. Penn, Life, in Wks. 1726, I. 129. Dissenters receiv’d a General Ease, and enjoy’d their Meetings peaceably.
1737. Whiston, Josephus’ Antiq., III. iii. That [discovery of springs] was an ease to them [the Israelites suffering thirst].
1747. in Col. Rec. Pennsylv., V. 141. Required by His Majesty from those Colonies to be done in ease of the National Expence.
IV. 11. Comb., as † ease-bred, -loving adjs.; ease-and-comfort, a leg-rest, consisting of two boards fixed in the shape of a Ｔ; † ease-room, a comfortable lodging-room; cf. EASEMENT 1 d.
1591. Troubl. Raigne K. John (1611), F iij b. The ease-bred Abbots, and the bare-foote Friers,… Are all in health.
1629. Rutherford, Lett., v. (1862), I. 47. In your house there are fair ease-rooms and pleasant lights.
1847. C’tess Blessington, Marmaduke Herbert, I. 181. A bergère in each of the rooms, with abundant pillows to prop up her weak frame, and an ease-and-comfort to each, to support her legs.
1878. Bosw. Smith, Carthage, 175–6. Around Hanno … gathered all that was ease-loving, all that was short-sighted.
Ease, obs. and dial. var. of EAVES.
