easement

C2 Topic:Law & Government

US /ˈiːz.mənt/ UK /ˈiːz.mənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #75042

Meanings

1

noun
law: a right to cross or use another person's land for a specified purpose without owning it

The deed grants the neighboring farm an easement across the private road.
2

noun
formal or archaic: the act of easing something unpleasant, or relief and comfort provided

The padded seat offered some easement during the long ceremony.
3

noun
architecture: a curved transition between straight or differently directed parts of a molding, baseboard, or handrail

The carpenter shaped an easement where the handrail turned toward the newel.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · law: a right to cross or... right of wayservitude

2 noun · formal or archaic: the act... relief alleviation comfort

3 noun · architecture: a curved... curved transition

Opposites

obstruction encumbrance

Word family

Related forms usufructwayleaverelief handrail

Common collocations

public easement Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman and Middle French aisement, 'comfort, convenience, opportunity, or right of use,' from aisier, 'to ease or facilitate,' + -ment. The general relief sense is old; legal use specialized the word for a nonpossessory right exercised over another person's land.

Topics

Law & Government

External links

# easement

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈiːz.mənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈiːz.mənt/
**Frequency rank:** 75042

## Meanings
1. law: a right to cross or use another person's land for a specified purpose without owning it
2. formal or archaic: the act of easing something unpleasant, or relief and comfort provided
3. architecture: a curved transition between straight or differently directed parts of a molding, baseboard, or handrail

## Examples
- The deed grants the neighboring farm an easement across the private road.
- The padded seat offered some easement during the long ceremony.
- The carpenter shaped an easement where the handrail turned toward the newel.

## Synonyms
- right of way
- servitude
- relief
- alleviation

## Antonyms
- obstruction
- encumbrance

## Related Forms
- usufruct
- wayleave
- relief
- handrail

## Etymology
From Anglo-Norman and Middle French aisement, 'comfort, convenience, opportunity, or right of use,' from aisier, 'to ease or facilitate,' + -ment. The general relief sense is old; legal use specialized the word for a nonpossessory right exercised over another person's land.

## Topics
- Law & Government

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