Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Ease \Ease\, 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
      tranquility to; -- often with of; as, to ease of pain;
      ease the body or mind.

            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.

Helm \Helm\, n. [OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G.
   helm, Icel. hj[=a]lm, and perh. to E. helve.]
   1. (Naut.) The apparatus by which a ship is steered,
      comprising rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used
      of the tiller or wheel alone.

   2. The place or office of direction or administration. ``The
      helm of the Commonwealth.'' --Melmoth.

   3. One at the place of direction or control; a steersman;
      hence, a guide; a director.

            The helms o' the State, who care for you like
            fathers.                              --Shak.

   4. [Cf. {Helve}.] A helve. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

   {Helm amidships}, when the tiller, rudder, and keel are in
      the same plane.

   {Helm aport}, when the tiller is borne over to the port side
      of the ship.

   {Helm astarboard}, when the tiller is borne to the starboard
      side.

   {Helm alee}, {Helm aweather}, when the tiller is borne over
      to the lee or to the weather side.

   {Helm hard alee} or {hard aport}, {hard astarboard}, etc.,
      when the tiller is borne over to the extreme limit.

   {Helm port}, the round hole in a vessel's counter through
      which the rudderstock passes.

   {Helm down}, helm alee.

   {Helm up}, helm aweather.

   {To ease the helm}, to let the tiller come more amidships, so
      as to lessen the strain on the rudder.

   {To feel the helm}, to obey it.

   {To right the helm}, to put it amidships.

   {To shift the helm}, to bear the tiller over to the
      corresponding position on the opposite side of the vessel.
      --Ham. Nav. Encyc.