Chapter Earthly-minded to Easy of E by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

(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; tranquillity; facility; easiness; readiness.

Ease
(Ease) 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.

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
(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
(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
(Ease"less) a. Without ease. Donne.

Easement
(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.