Inflected forms: 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 a bare existence from farming in an arid area.3. To make (a supply) last by practicing strict economy. Used with out.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English eken, to increase, from Old English can. See aug- in Appendix I.
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