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.
Ease"ful (?), a. Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet; comfortable; restful. Shak. -- Ease"ful*ly, adv. -- Ease"ful*ness, n.
Ea"sel (?), n. [D. ezel ass, donkey, hence, easel, or G. esel; akin to E. ass. See Ass.] A frame (commonly) of wood serving to hold a canvas upright, or nearly upright, for the painter's convenience or for exhibition.
Easel picture, Easel piece, a painting of moderate size such as is made while resting on an easel, as distinguished from a painting on a wall or ceiling.
Ease"less (?), a. Without ease. Donne.
Ease"ment (?), n. [OF. aisement. See Ease, n.] 1. That which gives ease, relief, or assistance; convenience; accommodation.
In need of every kind of relief and easement.
Burke.
2. (Law) A liberty, privilege, or advantage, which one proprietor has in the estate of another proprietor, distinct from the ownership of the soil, as a way, water course, etc. It is a species of what the civil law calls servitude. Kent.
3. (Arch.) A curved member instead of an abrupt change of direction, as in a baseboard, hand rail, etc.
Eas"i*ly (?), adv. [From Easy.] 1. With ease; without difficulty or much effort; as, this task may be easily performed; that event might have been easily foreseen.
2. Without pain, anxiety, or disturbance; as, to pass life well and easily. Sir W. Temple.