Chapter 493

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.

Earwitness <Xpage=466>

Ear"wit`ness (?) , n. A witness by means of his ears; one who is within hearing and does hear; a hearer.

Fuller.

Ease <Xpage=466>

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.

Ease <Xpage=466>

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.

Easeful <Xpage=466>

Ease"ful (?) , a. Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet; comfortable; restful. Shak . -- Ease"ful*ly , adv. -- Ease"ful*ness , n.

Easel <Xpage=466>

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.

Easeless <Xpage=466>

Ease"less (?) , a. Without ease.

Donne.

Easement <Xpage=466>

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.

Easily <Xpage=466>

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.

3. Readily; without reluctance; willingly.

Not soon provoked, she easily forgives. Prior.

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4. Smoothly; quietly; gently; gracefully; without <?/umult or discord.

5. Without shaking or jolting; commodiously; as, a carriage moves easily .

Easiness <Xpage=467>

Eas"i*ness (?) , n. 1. The state or condition of being easy; freedom from distress; rest.

2. Freedom from difficulty; ease; as the easiness of a task.

3. Freedom from emotion; compliance; disposition to yield without opposition; unconcernedness.

Give to him, and he shall but laugh at your easiness . South.

4. Freedom from effort, constraint, or formality; -- said of style, manner, etc.

With painful care, but seeming easiness . Roscommon.

5. Freedom from jolting, jerking, or straining.

East <Xpage=467>

East (?) , n. [OE. est , east , AS. e\'a0st ; akin to D. oost , oosten , OHG. <?/stan , G. ost , osten , Icel. austr , Sw. ost , Dan. \'94st , \'94sten , Lith. auszra dawn, L. aurora (for ausosa ), Gr. <?/, <?/, <?/, Skr. ushas ; cf. Skr. ush to burn, L. urere . <?/<?/<?/<?/, <?/<?/<?/. Cf. Aurora , Easter , Sterling .]

1. The point in the heavens where the sun is seen to rise at the equinox, or the corresponding point on the earth; that one of the four cardinal points of the compass which is in a direction at right angles to that of north and south, and which is toward the right hand of one who faces the north; the point directly opposite to the west.

The east began kindle. E. Everett.

2. The eastern parts of the earth; the regions or countries which lie east of Europe; the orient. In this indefinite sense, the word is applied to Asia Minor, Syria, Chaldea, Persia, India, China, etc.; as, the riches of the East ; the diamonds and pearls of the East ; the kings of the East .

The gorgeous East , with richest hand, Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold. Milton.

3. (U. S. Hist. and Geog.) Formerly, the part of the United States east of the Alleghany Mountains, esp. the Eastern, or New England, States; now, commonly, the whole region east of the Mississippi River, esp. that which is north of Maryland and the Ohio River; -- usually with the definite article; as, the commerce of the East is not independent of the agriculture of the West .

East by north , East by south , according to the notation of the mariner's compass, that point which lies 11<?/<?/ to the north or south, respectively, of the point due east. -- East-northeast , East-southeast , that which lie 22<?/<?/ to the north or south of east, or half way between east and northeast or southeast, respectively. See Illust . of Compass .

East <Xpage=467>

East (?) , a. Toward the rising sun; or toward the point where the sun rises when in the equinoctial; as, the east gate; the east border; the east side; the east wind is a wind that blows from the east.

East <Xpage=467>

East , adv. Eastward.

East <Xpage=467>

East , v. i. To move toward the east; to veer from the north or south toward the east; to orientate.

Easter <Xpage=467>

Eas"ter (?) , n. [AS. e\'a0ster , e\'a0stran , paschal feast, Easter; akin to G. ostern ; fr. AS. E\'a0stre , a goddess of light or spring, in honor of whom a festival was celebrated in April; whence this month was called in AS. E\'a0sterm<?/na<?/ . From the root of E. east . See East .]

1. An annual church festival commemorating Christ's resurrection, and occurring on Sunday, the second day after Good Friday. It corresponds to the pasha or passover of the Jews, and most nations still give it this name under the various forms of pascha , pasque , p\'83que , or pask .

2. The day on which the festival is observed; Easter day.

&hand; Easter is used either adjectively or as the first element of a compound; as, Easter day or Easter -day, Easter Sunday, Easter week, Easter gifts.

Sundays by thee more glorious break, An Easter day in every week. Keble.

&hand; Easter day , on which the rest of the movable feasts depend, is always the first Sunday after the fourteenth day of the calendar moon which (fourteenth day) falls on, or next after, the 21st of March, according to the rules laid down for the construction of the calendar; so that if the fourteenth day happen on a Sunday, Easter day is the Sunday after.

Eng. Cyc.

Easter dues (Ch. of Eng.) , money due to the clergy at Easter, formerly paid in communication of the tithe for personal labor and subject to exaction. For Easter dues , Easter offerings, voluntary gifts, have been substituted. -- Easter egg . (a) A painted or colored egg used as a present at Easter. (b) An imitation of an egg, in sugar or some fine material, sometimes made to serve as a box for jewelry or the like, used as an Easter present.

Easter <Xpage=467>

East"er (?) , v. i. (Naut.) To veer to the east; -- said of the wind.

Russell.

Easterling <Xpage=467>

East"er*ling (?) , n. [Cf. Sterling .]

1. A native of a country eastward of another; -- used, by the English, of traders or others from the coasts of the Baltic.

Merchants of Norway, Denmark, . . . called . . . Easterlings because they lie east in respect of us. Holinshed.

2. A piece of money coined in the east by Richard II. of England.

Crabb.

3. (Zo\'94l.) The smew.

Easterling <Xpage=467>

East"er*ling , a. Relating to the money of the Easterlings, or Baltic traders. See Sterling .

Easterly <Xpage=467>

East"er*ly , a. 1. Coming from the east; as, it was easterly wind .

2. Situated, directed, or moving toward the east; as, the easterly side of a lake; an easterly course or voyage.

Easterly <Xpage=467>

East"er*ly , adv. Toward, or in the direction of, the east.

Eastern <Xpage=467>

East"ern (?) , a. [AS. e\'a0stern .]

1. Situated or dwelling in the east; oriental; as, an eastern gate; Eastern countries.

Eastern churches first did Christ embrace. Stirling.

2. Going toward the east, or in the direction of east; as, an eastern voyage .

Eastern Church . See Greek Church , under Greek .

Easternmost <Xpage=467>

East"ern*most` (?) , a. Most eastern.

East Indian <Xpage=467>

East" In"di*an (?; see Indian ) . Belonging to, or relating to, the East Indies. -- n. A native of, or a dweller in, the East Indies.

Easting <Xpage=467>

East"ing , n. (Naut. & Surv.) The distance measured toward the east between two meridians drawn through the extremities of a course; distance of departure eastward made by a vessel.

East-insular <Xpage=467>

East`-in"su*lar (?) , a. Relating to the Eastern Islands; East Indian. [R.]

Ogilvie.

Eastward, Eastwards <Xpage=467>

East"ward (?) , East"wards (?) , adv. Toward the east; in the direction of east from some point or place; as, New Haven lies eastward from New York .

Easy <Xpage=467>

Eas"y (?) , a. [ Compar. Easier (?) ; superl. Easiest .] [OF. aisi\'82 , F. ais\'82 , prop. p. p. of OF. aisier . See Ease , v. t. ]

1. At ease; free from pain, trouble, or constraint; as: (a) Free from pain, distress, toil, exertion, and the like; quiet; as, the patient is easy . (b) Free from care, responsibility, discontent, and the like; not anxious; tranquil; as, an easy mind . (c) Free from constraint, harshness, or formality; unconstrained; smooth; as, easy manners; an easy style. "The easy vigor of a line. "

Pope.

2. Not causing, or attended with, pain or disquiet, or much exertion; affording ease or rest; as, an easy carriage; a ship having an easy motion; easy movements, as in dancing . " Easy ways to die."

Shak.

3. Not difficult; requiring little labor or effort; slight; inconsiderable; as, an easy task; an easy victory.

It were an easy leap. Shak.

4. Causing ease; giving freedom from care or labor; furnishing comfort; commodious; as, easy circumstances; an easy chair or cushion.

5. Not making resistance or showing unwillingness; tractable; yielding; complying; ready.

He gained their easy hearts. Dryden.

He is too tyrannical to be an easy monarch. Sir W. Scott.

6. Moderate; sparing; frugal. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

7. (Com.) Not straitened as to money matters; as, the market is easy ; -- opposed to tight .

Honors are easy (Card Playing) , said when each side has an equal number of honors, in which case they are not counted as points.

Syn. -- Quiet; comfortable; manageable; tranquil; calm; facile; unconcerned.

Easy-chair <Xpage=467>

Eas"y-chair` (?) , n. An armichair for ease or repose. "Laugh . . . in Rabelais' easy-chair ."

Pope.

Easy-going <Xpage=467>

Eas"y-go`ing (?) , a. Moving easily; hence, mild-tempered; ease-loving; inactive.

Eat <Xpage=467>

Eat (?) , v. t. [ imp. Ate (?; 277) , Obsolescent & Colloq . Eat (<?/) ; p. p. Eaten (?) , Obs. or Colloq . Eat (<?/); p. pr. & vb. n. Eating .] [OE. eten , AS. etan ; akin to OS. etan , OFries. eta , D. eten , OHG. ezzan , G. essen , Icel. eta , Sw. \'84ta , Dan. \'91de , Goth. itan , Ir. & Gael. ith , W. ysu , L. edere , Gr. <?/, Skr. ad . <?/<?/. Cf. Etch , Fret to rub, Edible .]

1. To chew and swallow as food; to devour; -- said especially of food not liquid; as, to eat bread . "To eat grass as oxen."

Dan. iv. 25.

They . . . ate the sacrifices of the dead. Ps. cvi. 28.

The lean . . . did eat up the first seven fat kine. Gen. xli. 20.

The lion had not eaten the carcass. 1 Kings xiii. 28.

With stories told of many a feat, How fairy Mab junkets eat . Milton.

The island princes overbold Have eat our substance. Tennyson.

His wretched estate is eaten up with mortgages. Thackeray.

2. To corrode, as metal, by rust; to consume the flesh, as a cancer; to waste or wear away; to destroy gradually; to cause to disappear.

To eat humble pie . See under Humble . -- To eat of ( partitive use ). " Eat of the bread that can not waste." Keble . -- To eat one's words , to retract what one has said. (See the Citation under Blurt .) -- To eat out , to consume completely. " Eat out the heart and comfort of it." Tillotson . -- To eat the wind out of a vessel (Naut.) , to gain slowly to windward of her.

Syn. -- To consume; devour; gnaw; corrode.

Eat <Xpage=467>

Eat , v. i. 1. To take food; to feed; especially, to take solid, in distinction from liquid, food; to board.

He did eat continually at the king's table. 2 Sam. ix. 13.

2. To taste or relish; as, it eats like tender beef .

3. To make one's way slowly.

To eat , To eat in &or; into , to make way by corrosion; to gnaw; to consume. "A sword laid by, which eats into itself." Byron . -- To eat to windward (Naut.) , to keep the course when closehauled with but little steering; -- said of a vessel.

Eatable <Xpage=467>

Eat"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being eaten; fit to be eaten; proper for food; esculent; edible. -- n. Something fit to be eaten.

Eatage <Xpage=467>

Eat"age (?; 48) , n. Eatable growth of grass for horses and cattle, esp. that of aftermath.

Eater <Xpage=467>

Eat"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, eats.

Eath <Xpage=467>

Eath (?) , a. & adv. [AS. e\'a0<?/e .] Easy or easily. [Obs.] " Eath to move with plaints."

Fairfax.

Eating <Xpage=467>

Eat"ing (?) , n. 1. The act of tasking food; the act of consuming or corroding.

2. Something fit to be eaten; food; as, a peach is good eating . [Colloq.]

Eating house , a house where cooked provisions are sold, to be eaten on the premises.

Eau de Cologne <Xpage=467>

Eau` de Co*logne" (?) . [F. eau water (L. aqua ) + de of + Cologne .] Same as Cologne .

Eau de vie <Xpage=467>

Eau` de vie" (?) . [F., water of life; eau (L. aqua ) water + de of + vie (L. vita ) life.] French name for brandy. Cf. Aqua vit\'91 , under Aqua .

Bescherelle.

Eavedrop <Xpage=467>

Eave"drop` (?) , n. A drop from the eaves; eavesdrop. [R.]

Tennyson.

Eaves <Xpage=467>