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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)