easiness 
Give to him, and he shall but laugh at yonr easiness. 
South. 
This easiness and credulity destroy all the other merit 
he has ; and ho has nil his life l>een a sacrifice to others, 
without ever receiving thanks, or lining one nood action. 
Xtr<-lc, Spectator, No. 82. 
4. Freedom from stiffness, constraint, effort, 
or formality: applied to manners or style. 
Abstruse and mystic thoughts you must express 
With painful care, hut seeming easiness. 
Rosmmmon, On Translated Verse. 
That which cannot without injury IMS denied to you, is 
the easiness of your conversation, far from affectation or 
pride; not denying even to enemies their just praises. 
Dryden, Ded. of Third Misc. 
She had not much company of her own sex, except those 
whom she most loved for their easing**, or esteemed for 
their good sense. Swift, Death of Stella. 
Syn. 2. Facility, etc. See ease. 
easing 1 ! (e'zing), '* [< ww + -*"<7 1 -] An ease- 
ment ; an allowance ; a special privilege. 
This led unfortunately In later times to many eatings to 
the sous of Gild-brothers in learning the trade and acquir- 
ing the freedom of the Gild. 
English Oildi (E. E. T. S.), Int., p. cxxxii. 
easing 2 (e'zing), n. [A dialectal contr. of eaves- 
ing, a. v.] The eaves of a house, collectively. 
Brockctt. [North. Eng. and Scotch.] 
easing-sparrow (e'zing-spar'6), . The house- 
sparrow, Passer domesticxs, which nests under 
the easing or eaves of houses. [Prov. Eng.] 
easing-swallow (e'zing-swol'6), n. Same as 
eaves-swallow, 2. 
east (est), n. and a. [< ME. est, eest, <est, east, 
n., east (ace. est, etc., as adv.), < AS. edst, adv., 
orig. the ace. or dat. (locative) of the noun, 
used adverbially (never otherwise as a noun, 
and never as an adj., the forms so given in the 
dictionaries being simply the adv. (east or east- 
an), alone or in comp.), to the east, in the east, 
east; in coinp. edst- (est-, eest-, etc.), a quasi- 
adj., as in edst-dal, the eastern region, the east, 
etc. (> E. east, a.) ; = D. oost = Fries, east, 
aest = LG. oost, Q. ost = Sw. ost = Dan. ost, 
ost, east (as a noun, in other than adverbial use ; 
all modern, and developed from the older ad- 
verbial uses) (of. OF. eat, hest, F. est = Sp. Pg. 
este, Sp. Pg. also with the def. art., leste = It. 
est, from the E.): (1) AS. edst = D. oost = 
Dan. ost, adv., to the east, in the east, east ; (2) 
AS. edstan, edsten, esten = OS. ostan, dstana = 
OFries. aesta, data, Fries, dsta = MLG. ostene, 
osten = OHG. ostana, MHG. ostene, osten, G. 
osten = Icel. austan, adv., prop, 'from the east 
(hither),' but in MHG. and G. also 'in the 
east, east'; hence the noun, D. oosten = MLG. 
osten = OHG. ostan, MHG. osten, G. osten = Sw. 
ostan = Dan. osten, the east ; (3) AS. "edstor (not 
found, but perhaps the orig. form of edst), ME. 
ester-, E. easier- (in comp.) = OS. oter=OFries. 
aster = D. ooster = OHG. ostar, MHG. osier, G. 
oster (in comp.) = Sw. oster = Dan. oster = Icel. 
austr, adv., to the east, east, Sw. Dan. Icel. also 
as noun, the east ; (4) AS. edsterne, adj., E. east- 
ern, q. v. ; (5) AS. edstweard, edsteweard, E. east- 
ward, q. v. These are all formed from an orig. 
Teut. "aus-t-a- or 'aus-t-os-, the dawn, = L. au- 
rora for "ausosa, the dawn (see aurora), = Gr. 
i?<5f, Attic luf, Doric auf, Laconian a8&p, JEolic 
a!ru$ for "a'uauf (see Eos, Eocene). = Skt. ushas, 
the dawn, the personified Dawn, Aurora, =Lith. 
auszra, dawn (cf. auszta, the morning star, 
auszti. v., dawn, = Lett, oust, dawn) ; cf. Skt. 
nsra, bright, pertaining to the dawn, as noun 
the dawn, = AS. 'Edstra, dial. Edstra, the god- 
dess of dawn or rather of spring (the dawn 
of the year), > E. Easter^, q. v.; < / *, Skt. 
\/ ush, bum, =s L. urere, orig. "ttscre (perf. ussi, 
pp. ustus), burn (see adusft, combust, etc.). = Gr. 
aiieiv, kindle, eiictv, singe, etc., a reduced form 
of y vas, grow bright, light up, dawn, whence 
also ult. Gr. it/tap, orig. 'pea/jap, day, lap, orig. 
"Fftrap, = L. ver, orig. "veser, spring (> ult. E. 
vernal, etc.), L. auriim, gold (> ult. E. auric 1 , 
awaits, or*, etc.). Cf. west, north, south, and 
northeast, southeast.'] I. n. 1. One of the four 
cardinal points of the compass, opposite to the 
west, and lying on the right hand when one 
faces the north ; the point in the heavens where 
the gun is seen to rise at the equinox, or the cor- 
responding point on the earth, strictly, the term 
applies to the one point where the sun rises at the equi- 
nox ; but originally and in general use it refers to the gen- 
eral direction. Specifically (rcclr*.), the point of the com- 
pass toward which one is turned when facing tile altar or 
high altar from the direction of the nave. As early as the 
second century it was the established custom for Chris- 
tians tu pray facing the east. From this resulted the cus- 
tom of building churches with the altar and sanctuary t 
the east end and the main entrance at the west end, and of 
1823 
using the terms in this way even with respect to churches 
not so built. 
In comynge doun fro the Mount of Olyvete, toward the 
Est, is a Castelle, that is cleped Bethany. 
ilandemlle, Travels, p. 97. 
Here lies the east: Doth not the day break here? 
Shak., J. C., II. 1. 
2. The quarter or direction toward the mean 
point of sunrise ; an eastward situation or trend; 
the eastern part or side : as, a town or country 
in the east of Europe, or on the east of a range 
of mountains; to travel to the east (that is, m 
an eastern direction). 3. A territory or region 
situated eastward of the person speaking, or of 
the people using the term. Specifically (o) [cap.] 
The parts of Asia collectively (as lying east of Europe) 
where civilization has existed from early times, Including 
Asia Minor, Syria, Arabia, India, China, etc. : as, the riches 
of the East; the spices and perfumes of the East; the 
kings of the East. Also called the Orient. 
The gorgeous east, with richest hand, 
Showers on her kings Barbaric pearl and gold. 
Milton, P. L., 11. S. 
(b) In the Bible, the countries southeast, east, and north- 
east of Palestine, as Moab. Anmion, Arabia Deserta, Ar- 
menia, Assyria, Babylon, Parthia. The countries desig- 
nated by the term in particular passages must be discov- 
ered from the context. ( 
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came Into the land 
of the people of the east. Gen. xxix. 1. 
The Midianites came up, and the Amalekites. and the 
children of the east. Judges vl. 3. 
(c) [cap.] In the United States, in a restricted sense, New 
England ; in a more general sense, the whole eastern or 
Atlantic portion of the country, as distinguished from the 
Weft. 
4. [cap.'} In church hist., the church in the 
Eastern Empire and countries adjacent, espe- 
cially those on the east, as "the West" is the 
church in the Western Empire: as, the great 
schism between East and West. 
It is idle to keep (as controversialists, and especially 
Anglo-Roman controversialists, love to keep) the East in 
the background. J. M. Keale, Eastern Church, I. 16. 
5. The east wind. 
The dreaded East Is all the wind that blows. 
Pope, R. of the L., iv. 20. 
As when a field of corn 
Bows all its ears before the roaring East. 
Tennyson, Princess, i. 
Empire of the East. See empire. 
H. a. [< ME. est-, eest-, eest-, east-, < AS. east-, 
only in comp., being the adv. (orig. noun) so 
used: see east, .] 1. Situated in the direction 
of the rising sun, or toward the point where the 
sun rises when in the equinoctial : as, the east 
side ; an east window. 
Tills evening, on the east side of the grove. 
Shak., 2 Hen. VI., II. 1. 
2. Coming from the direction of the east : only 
in the phrase the or an east wind. 
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. 
Ps. xlvlU. 7. 
3. Eccles., situated beyond or in the direction 
of the altar or high altar of a church as seen 
from the nave : as, the east end of the choir- 
stalls. 
Abbreviated E. 
East dial. See dial. East Indies, a name given to the 
countries Included in the two great peninsulas of southern 
Asia and the adjacent Islands, from the delta of the Indus 
to the northern extremity of the Philippine islands, com- 
prising India, Burma, Main, etc. 
They shall be my East and West Indies, and I will trade 
to them both. Shak., M. W. of W., t 3. 
east (est), adv. [< ME. est, eest, a:st, east, < 
AS. edst, adv.: see east, n. and a.] 1. In an 
easterly direction ; eastward : as, he went east. 
Like youthful steers unyok'd, they took their course 
East, west, north, south. Shak., 2 lien. IV., Iv. 3. 
One gate there only was, and that look'd toft. 
Milton, P. L., iv. 178. 
2. Eccles., toward the point conventionally re- 
garded as the east ; in the direction of or be- 
yond the altar as seen from the nave : as, the 
chapel cast of the choir is commonly called the 
Lady Chapel. About east, about right ; in a proper 
manner. Bartlett. [Slang, New Eng.] Down east. See 
down-, adr. 
east (est), v. i. [< east, n. and adv.] To move 
toward the east ; turn or veer toward the east. 
[Scarcely used except in the verbal noun east- 
east-about (est'a-bout'), adv. Around toward 
the east ; in an easterly direction. 
The cause, whatever it was, gradually spread, moving 
east-abmtt. Sci. Ami-r., \. S., LIV. 7. 
Easter 1 (es'ter), n. and a. [< ME. ester, earlier 
ti-x/ir, a'stere, also entente, ecatcrne (orig. pi.), < 
AS. edstre, generally pi., nom. edstro, gen. eds- 
trcna, dat. edstron, edstran, also edstor-, easier- 
Easter-flower 
(only in comp. and in ONorth. gen. edstret), 
Easter, = OHG. ostard, pi. ostarun, MHG. oster, 
generally pi. astern, G. ostcrn (in comp. oster-), 
Easter; orig. a festival in honor of the goddess 
of Spring, = AS. " Edstra, whose name as such is 
given by Beda in the dial, form Eotstra = OHG. 
*0stard, etc.: see east, .] I. . A festival 
observed in the Christian church, from early 
times, in commemoration of the resurrection 
of Jesus Christ. It corresponds with the Passover of 
the Jews, which in the King James version of the Bible 
is called once by the name of Hatter (Acts ill. 4). The 
name appears several times in earlier versions. Easter is 
observed by the Greek, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and 
Lutheran churches, and by many among the non-liturgi- 
cal churches who do not generally regard the church 
year. The esteem in which It is held is Indicated by Its 
ancient title, "the great day." Easter Is the Sunday 
which follows that 14th day of the calendar moon which 
falls upon or next after the 21st day of March. This is 
true buth of old style and new, and the rule has been 
used, though not universally, from a very early day. 
The northern Irish and Scottish, together with the 
Picts, observed the custom of the Britons, keeping their 
Easter upon the Sunday that fell between the xlv. and the 
xx. day of the Moon. 
Abp. Uuher, Religion of the Anc. Irish, Ix., in Words- 
[worth's Church of Ireland, p. 54. 
Gauss's Rule for finding the date of Easter. First, 
take x and y out of the following table : 
* V 
Old style 15 6 
New style, A. r>. 1583-1699 22 2 
" " 1700-1799 28 3 
" " 1800-1899 23 4 
1900-2099 24 5. 
Second, calculate the five numbers a, b, c, d, e, by the fol- 
lowing rules, where N Is the number of the year : 
a is the remainder after the division of N by 19. 
b is the remainder after the division of X by 4. 
i- Is the remainder after the division of N by 7. 
</ is the remainder after the division of 19a + x by 30. 
is the remainder after the division of 26 + 4c 4- 6d 4- y 
by 7. 
Third, then d + e + 22 is the day of March, or d + e 9 is 
the day of April on which Easter falls, except that when 
this rule gives April 26th the true day is April 19th, and 
when the rule gives April 25th, if d = 28 and a > 10, then 
the true date is April 18th. 
H. a. Of or pertaining to Easter. 
It were mtich to be wished . . . that their easier devo- 
tions would, in some measure, come up to their easier 
dress. South, Works, II. vlii. 
At Easter pricet, at a cheap rate, flesh being formerly 
then at a discount. Wright. Easter day, the day on 
which the festival of Easter Is celebrated. 
But O, she dances such a way ! 
No sun upon an Kaster^tay 
Is half so fine a sight. 
Suckling, Ballad upon a Wedding. 
Easter dues or offerings, In the Ch. of Eny., certain 
dues paid to the parochial clergy by the parishioners at 
Easter as a compensation for personal tithes, or as the 
tithe for personal labor. Easter eggs, eggs, real or ar- 
tificial, ornamented by dyeing, painting, or otherwise, and 
used at Easter as decorations or gifts. 
Easter eggs, or Pasch eggs, are symbolical of creation, 
or the re-creation of spring. The practice of presenting 
eggs to our friends at Easter is Magian or Persian. . . . 
Christians adopted the custom to symbolize the resurrec- 
tion, and they color the eggs red in allusion to the blood 
of their redemption. Brewer. 
Easter eve (sometimes Easter even), the day before Easter 
Sunday ; Holy Saturday ; the end of Lent and the prelude 
to the festival of Easter. In the early church Good Friday 
and Easter eve were observed as a strict and continuous 
fast till after midnight of the latter, the whole night be- 
fore Easter day being passed in continual worship and In 
listening to lections and sermons. During this vigil the 
churches, and frequently the streets, were brilliantly light- 
ed, the worshipers also bringing lamps and tapers with 
them. Two ancient ceremonies of Kaster eve, still re- 
tained in the Roman Catholic Church, are the benediction 
of the paschal taper (see paschal and exultet), a custom 
which is said to have originated in the fifth century, and 
the benediction of the font. Easter eve was the chief 
time for baptism in the early church. 
And soo to Roane the same nyght. where we abode 
Ester euyn and Ester daye all daye, and on Ester Monday 
that was the .xij. daye of Apryll we departed from Roane 
to Cuys to dyner, and to Myny ye same nyght. 
Sir R. Guyljorde, Pylgrymage, p. 8. 
It Is not Easter yet ; but it Is Easter eve; all Lent Is but 
the vigil, the eve of Easter. Donne, Sermons, xif. 
Easter gift, a gift presented at Easter. Easter term, 
(a) In Eng. law, a term of court beginning on the 15th 
of April and continuing till about the 8th of May. (6) In 
the English universities, a term held in the spring and 
lasting for about six weeks after Easter. Easter week, 
the week following Easter, the days of which are callen 
Easter Monday, Easter Tuefday, etc. 
easier 2 ! (es'ter), a. [< ME. ester- (in comp.), < 
AS. "eastor = OS. ostar, etc., adv., east: see 
east, n., and cf. eastern, easterly, easterling, from 
which easier, a. , is in part developed.] Eastern ; 
easterly. 
Till starres gan vanish, and the dawning brake, 
And all the Easter fnrta were full of light. 
Sir J. Uarinyton, tr. of Ariosto, xxlli. 6. 
Easter-flower (es'ter-flou'er), n. The flor de 
pascua of Brazil, a euphorbiaceous shrub, Eu- 
