[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

ease \ease\ =ez, v. t.  i. imp.  p. p. eased =ezd;
   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.
      1913 webster

            eased from the putting off
            these troublesome disguises which we wear. --milton.
      1913 webster

            sing, and i 'll ease thy shoulders of thy load.
                                                  --dryden.
      1913 webster

   2. to render less painful or oppressive; to mitigate; to
      alleviate.
      1913 webster

            my couch shall ease my complaint.     --job vii. 13.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   4. to entertain; to furnish with accommodations. obs.
      --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   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.
        1913 webster
see also:
eased easing ease to ease off to ease away to ease a ship 
to ease the helm 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

helm \helm\, n. oe. helme, as. helma rudder; akin to d.  g.
   helm, icel. hj=alm, and perh. to e. helve.
   1913 webster
   1. naut. the apparatus by which a ship is steered,
      comprising rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used
      of the tiller or wheel alone.
      1913 webster

   2. the place or office of direction or administration. "the
      helm of the commonwealth." --melmoth.
      1913 webster

   3. one at the place of direction or control; a steersman;
      hence, a guide; a director.
      1913 webster

            the helms o' the state, who care for you like
            fathers.                              --shak.
      1913 webster

   4. cf. helve. a helve. obs. or prov. eng.
      1913 webster

   helm amidships, when the tiller, rudder, and keel are in
      the same plane.

   helm aport, when the tiller is borne over to the port side
      of the ship.

   helm astarboard, when the tiller is borne to the starboard
      side.

   helm alee, helm aweather, when the tiller is borne over
      to the lee or to the weather side.

   helm hard alee, helm hard aport, helm hard astarboard,
      etc., when the tiller is borne over to the extreme limit.
      

   helm port, the round hole in a vessel's counter through
      which the rudderstock passes.

   helm down, helm alee.

   helm up, helm aweather.

   to ease the helm, to let the tiller come more amidships, so
      as to lessen the strain on the rudder.

   to feel the helm, to obey it.

   to right the helm, to put it amidships.

   to shift the helm, to bear the tiller over to the
      corresponding position on the opposite side of the vessel.
      --ham. nav. encyc.
      1913 webster
see also:
helve helm amidships helm aport helm astarboard helm alee helm aweather 
helm hard alee helm hard aport helm hard astarboard helm port helm down 
helm up to ease the helm to feel the helm to right the helm to shift the helm 

Ease >> E Words
Ease, definition of term: Ease
ease_pag1.html

At Ease >> A Words
At Ease, definition of term: At Ease
at+ease_pag1.html