eke

¹

[ eek ]

verb (used with object)

, eked, ek·ing.

1. to increase; enlarge; lengthen.

verb phrase

1. 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 /

sentence connector

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

The polls say Republicans will likely eke out a small majority in the Senate this Election Day.

From The Daily Beast

They made the playoffs just four times and managed to eke out only one playoff series win.

From The Daily Beast

It's hard to find an extra 18,000 votes by squinting hard, but you can probably eke out a few hundred.

From The Daily Beast

Thanks to an unexpectedly strong showing in the West and the farm belt, Truman managed to eke out re-election.

From The Daily Beast

Polls suggests he should be able to eke out a win of three points or so.

From The Daily Beast

She had no ambition whatever, and merely hoped to be able to eke out in this way her slender resources.

From Project Gutenberg

John Gilpin was a citizen of credit and renown; A train-band captain eke was he, of famous London town.

From Project Gutenberg

So stooping down, as needs he must who cannot sit upright, He grasped the mane with both his hands, and eke with all his might.

From Project Gutenberg

These you can eke out by working late into the night, and rising when the day dawns.

From Project Gutenberg

Should he chance to break a leg, or she a limb, the inevitable exposure of the pedal condition is alarming and eke humiliating.

From Project Gutenberg