Ear"wig` (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earwigged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Earwigging (?).] To influence, or attempt to influence, by whispered insinuations or private talk. "No longer was he earwigged by the Lord Cravens." Lord Campbell.
Ear"wit`ness (?), n. A witness by means of his ears; one who is within hearing and does hear; a hearer. Fuller.
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; tranquillity; facility; easiness; readiness.
Ease (z), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Eased (zd); 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 tranquillity to; -- often with of; as, to ease of pain; to 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.