| 释义 |
unˈbuckle, v.
[un-2 4 b.]
1. trans. To unfasten the buckle of (a shoe, belt, etc.); to undo or set free in this way.
c1386Chaucer Sqr.'s T. 555 Ne neuere..Ne koude man..Countrefete the Sophymes of his Art Ne were worthy vnbokelen his galoche. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xx. 68 He vnbokelede hus boteles, and boþe he a-tamede. c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode i. cxxxviii. (1869) 72 Thanne the bocle j vnboclede. 1470–85Malory Arthur x. lx. 516 Soo the varlet wente to vnbockel his helme. 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Luke iii. 32 b, I..am vnworthy to vnbuccle the latchet of his shooes. 1577Test. 12 Patriarchs (1604) 90 The young man unbuckled Joseph's shoes at the gate. 1606Shakes. Ant. & Cl. iv. iv. 12 He that vnbuckles this, till we do please To daft for our Repose, shall heare a storme. 1755Young Centaur v. Wks. 1757 IV. 223 This is a militant state; nor must man unbuckle his armour, till he puts on his shroud. 1820Scott Monast. vi, He is like a miser, who will not unbuckle his purse to bestow a farthing. 1860Froude Hist. Eng. V. 389 Dropping his cloak he unbuckled his sword. 1886C. E. Pascoe London of To-day i. (ed. 3) 23 The Major..fell to unbuckling the straps of his trunk.
b. In fig. context. (Cf. mail n.3 1 c.)
c1386Chaucer Miller's Prol. 7 This gooth aright vnbokeled is the Male; Lat se now who shal telle another tale. a1400Partonope 7308 Of þi woo vnbocle þi male, And tell me all the verey trouþe. a1600Deloney Gentle Craft ii. viii. Wks. (1912) 186 Neuer be afraid man to vnbuckle Your Budget of close counsell to me. 1805Ann. Rev. III. 164 We much doubt whether any one, not educated in the catholic schools, could have detected where the collar may best be unbuckled.
c. fig. To free or separate from; to open up, display; to detach, break off.
a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 177 b, This noble realme..shall neuer be vnbuckeled from her quotidian feuer. 1638R. Brathwait Barnabees Jrnl. (1818) 191 Some comfort unbuckle, my sweet honeysuckle. 1736[Chetwood] Voy. Vaughan (1760) I. 264 The congregation immediately unbuckled their Devotions, and were crouding out as fast as they cou'd.
2. absol. To undo the buckle or buckles of a belt, garment, etc.
1611Beaum. & Fl. King & No King iii, Why do you wear a Sword then? Come unbuckle... Unbuckle I say, and give it me. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iv. 659 Vnbuckle, vnbuckle. Fortunate Mistresse..you must retire your selfe Into some Couert. 1649Davenant Love & Hon. i. i. 160 Unbuckle, Calladine, the day is hott. 1836Dickens Sk. Boz, Gt. Winglebury Duel, Up started the ostlers..unstrapping, and unchaining, and unbuckling.
b. transf. To become slack.
1648J. Beaumont Psyche xiii. clxxxii, His Joints unbuckled; and his Eyes did start; His hair stood staring up.
c. fig. To unbend, become less stiff.
1886Stevenson Kidnapped viii, Even the captain..would sometimes unbuckle a bit, and tell me of the fine countries he had visited.
Hence unˈbuckling vbl. n.
1598Florio, Sfibbiatura, an vnbuckling, an vnlacing. a1859De Quincey Posth. Wks. (1891) I. 272 Through the unbuckling of human nature under higher inspirations. |