ease \ease\ =ez, 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.
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            they him besought
            of harbor and or ease as for hire penny. --chaucer.
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   2. freedom from anything that pains or troubles; as:
      a relief from labor or effort; rest; quiet; relaxation;
          as, ease of body.
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                usefulness comes by labor, wit by ease.
                                                  --herbert.
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                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.
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                among these nations shalt thou find no ease.
                                                  --deut.
                                                  xxviii. 65.
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                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.
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                true ease in writing comes from art, not chance.
                                                  --pope.
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                whate'er he did was done with so much ease,
                in him alone 't was natural to please. --dryden.
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   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.
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see also:
agio disease at ease chapel of ease chapel ill at ease 
to stand at ease with ease