c. 1200, "physical comfort, undisturbed state of the body; tranquility, peace of mind," from Old French aise "comfort, pleasure, well-being; opportunity," which is of unknown origin, despite attempts to link it to various Latin verbs; perhaps Celtic. According to OED, the earliest senses in French appear to be 1. "elbow-room" (from an 11th century Hebrew-French glossary) and 2. "opportunity." This led Sophus Bugge to suggest an origin in Vulgar Latin asa, a shortened form of Latin ansa "handle," which could be used in the figurative sense of "opportunity, occasion," as well as being a possible synonym for "elbow," because Latin ansatus "furnished with handles" also was used to mean "having the arms akimbo." OED editors add, "This is not very satisfactory, but it does not appear that any equally plausible alternative has yet been proposed."
At ease "at rest, at peace, in comfort" is from late 14c.; as a military order (1802) the word denotes "freedom from stiffness or formality."
ease (v.)
c. 1300, "to help, assist," from Old French aiser, from aise (see ease (n.)). Meaning "to give ease, mitigate, alleviate, relieve from pain or care" is from mid-14c. Meaning "render less difficult" is from 1630s; the sense of "to relax one's efforts" is from 1863 (with up by 1907, earlier with a more specific sense in sailing). Farmer reports ease in a slang sense of "to content a woman" sexually, with an 1861 date. Related: Eased; easing.
雙語例句
1. They agreed to work co-operatively to ease tensions wherever possible.
他們同意互相配合盡一切努力緩解緊張局勢。
來自柯林斯例句
2. Breathe out and ease your knees in toward your chest.
呼氣，膝部放松向胸部靠攏。
來自柯林斯例句
3. They sprawl at ease across the sofa, arms draped over the back.
他們愜意地躺在沙發上，胳膊搭在后面。
來自柯林斯例句
4. He gently opened the throttle, and the ship began to ease forward.
他輕輕松開油門桿，輪船開始緩緩前行。
來自柯林斯例句
5. He fell asleep just past midnight with tolerable ease.