eke

¹

[eek]

verb (used with object)

eked, eking 

1. to increase; enlarge; lengthen.

verb phrase

1. eke out

   1. to make (a living) or support (existence) laboriously.

      They managed to eke out a living by farming a small piece of land.

   2. to supplement; add to; stretch.

      to eke out an income with odd jobs.

eke

²

[eek]

adverb

Archaic.

1. also.

eke

¹

/ iːk /

verb

1. archaic,  (tr) to increase, enlarge, or lengthen

eke

²

/ iːk /

1. archaic,  also; moreover

Word History and Origins

Origin of eke¹

before 1000; Middle English eken, Old English ēac ( i ) an (intransitive), derivative of ēaca (noun) increase; Middle English echen, Old English ēcan, variant of īecan (transitive) < West Germanic *aukjan; both akin to Old Norse auka, Gothic aukan, Latin augēre, Greek auxánein to increase, amplify

Origin of eke²

before 900; Middle English eek, Old English ēc, ēac; cognate with German auch, Old Norse, Gothic auk

Word History and Origins

Origin of eke¹

Old English eacan; related to Old Norse auka to increase, Latin augēre to increase

Origin of eke²

Old English eac; related to Old Norse, Gothic auk also, Old High German ouh, Latin autem but, aut or

Example Sentences

House Majority Leader Tom Delay pushing Texas legislators to eke out a few more seats for the Republicans.

From Salon

No divorces, no foreclosure threats, no Tom Schwartz ringing the doorbell to eke out an appearance fee, just a gaggle of 20-somethings indulging in pointless gossip and a surfeit of confidence whilst “whiteboarding” a business plan for a nightclub in which FUN is the first bullet point.

From Salon

In what Farrell called an "aggressive" performance at the set-piece, the front row were able to eke out a string of penalties.

From BBC

Every run that Australia managed to eke out for their final wicket would have gnawed away at Bavuma who was, if we are being hypercritical, guilty of a slight captaincy misstep.

From BBC

Cummins, who reached 300 Test wickets after he took 6-28, said any runs his side can eke out for their last two wickets could be vital.

From BBC