Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Ease \Ease\, n. [OE. ese, eise, F. aise; akin to Pr. ais, aise,
OIt. asio, It. agio; of uncertain origin; cf. L. ansa handle,
occasion, opportunity. Cf. {Agio}, {Disease}.]
1. Satisfaction; pleasure; hence, accommodation;
entertainment. [Obs.]
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.