eke
eke — verb
- ekepresent simple I / you / we / they
- ekes3rd person singular
- eking-ing form
- ekedpast simple
1. to make something greater in size, length, or duration — a meaning that is now f
to make something greater in size, length, or duration — a meaning that is now found only in historical or literary contexts.
The monks carefully eked the manuscript with decorative borders and gold leaf.
archaic standalone use without 'out'
Village farmers in medieval Europe eked their small harvests by rotating crops across three fields.
The king eked his treasury by imposing new taxes on imports from neighbouring lands.
The poet eked the original saga with several new verses describing the hero's early adventures.
Shipbuilders eked the hull by adding two extra layers of oak planks above the waterline.
文法句型
eke + object
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 and the idiom 'eke out': this sense uses 'eke' alone without the particle 'out' and is restricted to historical or literary writing.
常見錯誤
2. to manage to obtain or achieve something, such as a small income, a narrow victo
to manage to obtain or achieve something, such as a small income, a narrow victory, or a bare profit, only after a hard struggle and with very few resources; in modern English this sense always appears as part of the phrasal verb 'eke out'.
Hassan eked out a living by repairing bicycles on the roadside after the factory closed.
collocation: eke out a living
The underdog team eked out a 3–2 victory in the final minute of the match.
collocation: eke out a victory
Lakshmi eked out just enough profit from her shop to pay the monthly rent.
Eli eked out an existence by doing odd jobs for elderly neighbours.
The farmer eked out a thin crop from rocky soil that most people had abandoned.
- scrape together
more informal; suggests gathering small amounts from various sources rather than a single prolonged effort
- squeeze out
emphasises extracting the maximum possible from very limited resources, often with a sense of effort against pressure
文法句型
eke out + noun phrase (living, victory, profit, existence)
用法筆記
Always requires the particle 'out' — never used as 'eke something' alone. Subject is typically a person or organization struggling against limited resources or unfavourable conditions.