easement

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)An interest in land which grants the legal right to use another person's real property (real estate), generally in order to cross a part of the property or to gain access to something on the property (right of way).

   “The power company has an easement to put their electricity poles along the edge of this land.”

   “Eaſement is a privilege that one Neighbour hath of another, by Writing or Preſcription, without profit; as a Way or a Sink through his Land, or ſuch like.”

   “The 1955 Act gave powers for compulsory acquisition of "easements", or permission to tunnel beneath dwelling houses instead of, as had previously been necessary, following approximately the course of surface roads.”

   “The Lake Company actually had an easement – a right to flood some of this land – dating from 1845.”

2. (countable, uncountable)An element such as a baseboard, handrail, etc., that is curved instead of abruptly changing direction.

   “The curved part of the rail where it joins the newel is called an easement. Often, however, the rail joins the newel without an easement.”

   “In preparation for laying out the easement used to join the first- and second-flight handrails, tack a piece of plywood about 5 inches wide to the bottom side of the gooseneck fitting and the handrail of the first flight. These pieces are used to rest the connecting easement against when laying out the joint.”

3. (archaic, countable, uncountable)Easing; relief; assistance; support.

   “But now, thought I, if this ſin is not unto death, then it is pardonable; therefore from this I have encouragement to come to God by Chriſt for mercy; to conſider the promiſe of forgiveneſs, as that which ſtands with open arms to receive me, as well as others. This therefore was a great eaſement to my mind; to wit, that my ſin was pardonable, that it was not the ſin unto death, […]”

   “Money is made for the comfort and convenience of animal life. […] With ſubmiſſion to his Grace, I have not had more than ſufficient. As to any noble uſe, I truſt I know how to employ, as well as he, a much greater fortune than he poſſeſſes. In a more confined application, I certainly ſtand in need of every kind of relief and eaſement much more than he does.”

4. (archaic, countable, euphemistic, uncountable)The act of relieving oneself: defecating or urinating.

   “[T]he lowest servants at Hampton Court used the great communal toilet capable of seating fourteen people at once named the ‘Common Jakes’ or the ‘Great House of Easement’. This giant facility discharged into a tank which was washed clean by the waters of the moat. Even so, the tank emitted a dreadful smell and frequently had to be scrubbed clean.”

   “He lit candles in the passage next to Patrick's closet, where his lordship wrote his letters, did his easement, took his bath, and knelt on winter nights to say his blackest prayers.”

5. (countable, uncountable)Transition spiral curve track between a straight or tangent track and a circular curved track of a certain radius or selected radius.
6. (countable, uncountable)Gratification.