- Ill at ease
- Ease Ease ([=e]z), 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.]
[1913 Webster]
They him besought Of harbor and or ease as for hire penny. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
2. Freedom from anything that pains or troubles; as: (a) Relief from labor or effort; rest; quiet; relaxation; as, ease of body. [1913 Webster]
Usefulness comes by labor, wit by ease. --Herbert. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
Among these nations shalt thou find no ease. --Deut. xxviii. 65. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
True ease in writing comes from art, not chance. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
Whate'er he did was done with so much ease, In him alone 't was natural to please. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
{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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.