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tr.v. eked, ek·ing, ekes 1. To supplement with great effort. Used with out: eked out an income by working two jobs. 2. To get with great effort or strain. Used with out: eke out a bare existence from farming in an arid area. 3. To make (a supply) last by practicing strict economy. Used with out. [Middle English eken, to increase, from Old English ēcan; see aug- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
adv. Archaic Also. [Middle English, from Old English ēac, ēc.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
