eke
UK[iːk]US[iːk]
v
To make a small or inadequate amount last longer by using it carefully or supplementing it.
v
To obtain or achieve something with great effort or difficulty.
Etymology
The verb 'eke' originates from the Old English 'ēacian' or 'īecan', meaning "to increase, to add." This Old English term is derived from the Proto-Germanic aukijaną, which carries the same sense of augmentation. The core concept of adding to or supplementing something to make it sufficient is preserved in the modern, albeit now rare, usage of the word. Its most common survival is in the phrase "eke out a living," which perfectly encapsulates the struggle to supplement meager resources to achieve a bare minimum.
Analysis
The word is a simplex of Old English origin. It functions as a verb.
Examples
In the early days, many settlers had to eke out a living from the harsh land.
She managed to eke a narrow victory from a very close election.
He eked out the last of the flour by mixing it with oats.