different between ease vs knack
ease
English
Etymology
From Middle English ese, ays, etc., from Anglo-Norman ese (“ease”), from Old French eise and aise (“elbow room; opportunity”), of uncertain and obscure origin. Cognate with Provencal ais, Italian agio and asio, and Portuguese azo. Sometimes ascribed to Latin *asia or *asium, possibly from ansa (“handle; occasion”) but more likely from a Vulgar Latin *adjace(m), from Latin adjac?ns, present participle of adjace?. Alternatively, possibly from a non-Latin source such as Germanic or Celtic on the basis of the conflicting forms which appear in various Romance languages. Compare Old English ?eþe (“easy”), Gothic ???????????????????? (az?ti, “ease; pleasure”), *???????????????????? (*az?ts, “easy”), Breton eaz, ez (“easy”), Irish adhais (“easy; leisure”). Compare also Frankish *ansiju (“loophole, eyelet; handle, arms akimbo, elbow room”). See also eath.
The verb is from Middle English esen, ultimately of the same origin.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /i?z/
- (US) enPR: ?z, IPA(key): /iz/,
- Rhymes: -i?z
- Homophones: ees, E's, 'e's
Noun
ease (uncountable)
- Ability, the means to do something, particularly:
- (obsolete) Opportunity, chance.
- a. 1200, Ancrene Riwle (Cleopatra MS C.vi), p. 213:
- ...?ef þer is eise to fulle þe dede...
- a. 1200, Ancrene Riwle (Cleopatra MS C.vi), p. 213:
- Skill, dexterity, facility.
- (obsolete) Opportunity, chance.
- Comfort, a state or quality lacking unpleasantness, particularly:
- Freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance, sometimes (derogatory, archaic) idleness, sloth.
- Freedom from worry and concern; peace; sometimes (derogatory, archaic) indifference.
- Freedom from difficulty.
- Freedom from effort, leisure, rest.
- Freedom from financial effort or worry; affluence.
- Freedom from embarrassment or awkwardness; grace.
- Freedom from pain, hardship, and annoyance, sometimes (derogatory, archaic) idleness, sloth.
- Relief, an end to discomfort, particularly:
- Followed by of or from: release from or reduction of pain, hardship, or annoyance.
- (euphemistic, obsolete) Release from intestinal discomfort: defecation.
- Release from constraint, obligation, or a constrained position.
- (clothing) Additional space provided to allow greater movement.
- Followed by of or from: release from or reduction of pain, hardship, or annoyance.
- (obsolete) A convenience; a luxury.
- (obsolete) A relief; an easement.
Synonyms
- (ability): ability, dexterity, facility, skill
- (comfort): comfort, peace
- (freedom from worry): peace of mind
- (freedom from effort): free time, leisure, relaxation, rest
Derived terms
Related terms
- easy, easiness
Translations
Verb
ease (third-person singular simple present eases, present participle easing, simple past and past participle eased)
- (transitive) To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
- Elyse Saugstad, a professional skier, wore a backpack equipped with an air bag, a relatively new and expensive part of the arsenal that backcountry users increasingly carry to ease their minds and increase survival odds in case of an avalanche.
- (transitive) To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain).
- (transitive) To give respite to (someone).
- (nautical, transitive) To loosen or slacken the tension on a line.
- (transitive) To reduce the difficulty of (something).
- (transitive) To move (something) slowly and carefully.
- (intransitive) To lessen in severity.
- (intransitive) To proceed with little effort.
Synonyms
- (free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc): assuage, salve
- (alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain)): allay, alleviate, assuage, lessen, reduce
- (give respite to (someone)): give someone a break (informal), lay off (informal)
- (loosen or slacken the tension on (something)): loosen, relax, slacken
- (reduce the difficulty of (something)): facilitate, simplify
- (lessen in severity): lessen, reduce
- (proceed with little effort): cruise
Translations
References
Middle English
Noun
ease (plural eases)
- Alternative spelling of ese
ease From the web:
- what eases period cramps
- what eases nausea
- what eases stomach pain
- what eases constipation
- what ease means
- what causes heartburn
- what eases arthritis pain
- what eases anxiety
knack
English
Etymology
Use as "special skill" from 1580. Possibly from 14th century Middle English krak (“a sharp blow”), knakke, knakken, from Middle Low German, by onomatopoeia. Latter cognate to German knacken (“to crack”). See also crack.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /næk/
- Audio (UK)
- Rhymes: -æk
Noun
knack (plural knacks)
- A readiness in performance; aptness at doing something. [from 1580]
- Synonyms: skill, facility, dexterity
- 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 254a.
- The sophist runs for cover to the darkness of what is not and attaches himself to it by some knack of his;
- A petty contrivance; a toy.
- Synonyms: plaything, knickknack, toy
- Something performed, or to be done, requiring aptness and dexterity. [from mid 14th c.]
- Synonyms: trick, device
Derived terms
- knackless
Translations
Verb
knack (third-person singular simple present knacks, present participle knacking, simple past and past participle knacked)
- (obsolete, Britain, dialect) To crack; to make a sharp, abrupt noise; to chink.
- To speak affectedly.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Halliwell to this entry?)
Translations
References
knack From the web:
- what knack means
- what knackered mean
- what knack means in spanish
- what knackered means in spanish
- what knack means in farsi
- what's knacker drinking
- what knackered mean in arabic
- knack what does it mean
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