ease
Definitions
Freedom from difficulty; the quality of needing little effort
容易；不费力
A state of comfort, relaxation, and freedom from worry
安逸；舒适，自在
To make or become less severe, painful, or tense
减轻；缓和，缓解
To move or be moved slowly, gently, and carefully
（小心缓慢地）移动，挪动
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedease is the family's hub, straight from Old French aise (comfort, room to relax). It holds two ideas at once: 'no difficulty' (with ease, ease of use) and 'comfort' (a life of ease, ill at ease). As a verb it pushes those ideas outward — to take the pressure off something: ease the pain, ease tension, or ease a heavy box through a doorway.
Root ease still carries 8 more wordsWhy It Means This
The two noun senses and the verb all share one picture: removing what presses on you so there is room to relax. 'No difficulty' is the effort side; 'comfort' is the feeling side; the verb 'ease' is the act of taking pressure away — whether it's pain, tension, or a heavy object being guided gently into place.
Usage Guide
- with ease = easily, effortlessly: She passed with ease.
- at ease / ill at ease = comfortable / uncomfortable in feeling: I felt ill at ease in the new office.
- at ease is also a military command meaning 'relax your posture.'
- ease of use / ease of access = how easy something is to use/reach (fixed noun phrases).
- As a verb, ease often pairs with a direction word: ease off (lessen), ease up (relax pressure), ease into (start gently).
Example Sentences
- 1.
She solved the puzzle with surprising ease.
- 2.
After years of struggle, they finally lived a life of ease.
- 3.
The medicine should ease the pain within an hour.
- 4.
He eased the car slowly out of the narrow garage.
- 5.
Talking it through helped ease the tension between them.