▪ I. easing, vbl. n.1
(ˈiːzɪŋ)
[f. ease v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb ease. Mostly gerundial. Also † easing-chair, a nightstool.
| 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Allegeance, an easing or succouring. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. ii. 179 For easing me of the carriage. 1626 Bacon Sylva §757 The Staying and Easing of the Tooth-ach. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. xi. 54 The easing of her Masts and Shrouds, for some ships will saile much better when they are slacke. 1718 Hickes & Nelson J. Kettlewell ii. §40. 149 The Easing and Pleasing many of his Poor Subjects. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. III. 3 Oct., The doctor..found Frogmore enthroned on an easing-chair. 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 195 The taking away of an angle..of the rail..is called by workmen the easings of the rail. 1875 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Sports ii. viii. ii. §1. 649 Easing and starting are of course the exact opposites of each other. |
▪ II. easing, vbl. n.2 Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈiːzɪŋ)
Forms: 5 esyng, 9 dial. yeazin, 6– easing.
[contracted form of eavesing.]
= eavesing 2. Also in comb., as easing-drops, easing-sparrow.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 1522 Euen als þe esynges ȝode ouer be þe costez. 1483 Cath. Angl. 117 An Esynge, domicilium, tectum. 1580 North Plutarch 597 He..lay without doors, under the easing of the House. 1611 Manchester Court Leet Rec. (1885) II. 267 Anoyed by the water w{supc}{suph} cometh from the easinge of the howse. 1781 J. Hutton Tour Caves Gloss. (E.D.S.), Easings, eaves. 1857 J. Scholes Jaunt 31 in Lanc. Gloss. (E.D.S.), See yo, Tim, hoo sed to me, iv ther is nah o felley peeorcht on th' yeazin's wi' o choilt in his arms. 1881 Leicestersh. Gloss. (E.D.S.), Easings, eaves, more particularly the eaves of a stack or rick. |
▪ III. easing, ppl. a.
(ˈiːzɪŋ)
[f. ease v. + -ing2.]
That eases.
| a 1665 J. Goodwin Filled w. Spirit (1867) 39 He did it upon lightening and easing circumstances. |