| 释义 |
unˈchain, v.
[un-2 4 b.]
1. trans. To set free, release, from a chain or chains; to remove the chain(s) from.
1582N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. lxxiii. 150 Being in a readinesse to uncheine his Mastes, he was presently informed that the king of Calicut was reforming a new his Castles. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. iii. 31 Vnchaine your spirits now with spelling Charmes, And try if they can gaine your liberty. 1664Dryden & Howard Ind. Queen iii. i, They may By force unchain, and crown him in a day. 1679Alsop Melius Inq. i. ii. 108 When the Righteous God saw it necessary to unchain the Devil, and let him loose upon the English Protestants. 1704Prior Prol. Her Majesty's Birth-day 37 So was his Fame compleat, and Andromede unchain'd. 1831–7Praed Bridal of Belmont 113 The young Count clambered down the rock, Unfurled the sail, unchained the oar. 1868Dickens Uncomm. Trav. xxviii, He used his utmost influence to get the man unchained from the bedstead.
absol.1836Dickens Sk. Boz, Gt. Winglebury Duel, Up started the ostlers..unstrapping, and unchaining, and unbuckling, and dragging willing horses out.
b. transf. and fig. To set free; to liberate.
1793H. Walpole in Miss Berry Jrnls. & Corr. (1865) I. 425, I unchain my impatience, which has behaved like an angel. 1796Coleridge Destiny of Nations 111 Yet the wizard her..Forces to unchain the foodful progeny Of the Ocean stream. 1811H. G. Knight Phrosyne 40 Stern Winter..Unleafs the forest, and unchains the wind. 1855[J. D. Burn] Autobiog. Beggar Boy (1859) 13 You may form some little opinion of my position when my father unchained his lawless desires. 1890‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer (1891) 175 The storm..swept over..as if a fresh blast had been unchained among the far south ice-fields.
2. To free from obstruction by the removal of a chain. Also fig.
1613–6W. Browne Brit. Past. ii. iii, Gaze on mine eyes, whose life-infusing beames Haue powre to melt the Icy Northern streames, And so inflame the Gods of those bound Seas They should vnchaine their virgin passages. 1663Davenant Siege of Rhodes i. 31 Away! unchain the Streets, unearth the Ports!.. And bravely sally out from all the Forts!
Hence unˈchaining vbl. n.
[1775Ash.] a1835Mrs. Hemans Carolan's Prophecy 13 Many stood waiting around, in silent earnestness, Th' unchaining of his soul. 1871B. Jerrold At Home in Paris ii. vii. II. 147 It was a wicked, reckless unchaining of the hates long nursed, of the two foremost military nations of the world. |