unchainv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈtʃeɪn/, U.S. /ˌənˈtʃeɪn/ 1. absolute.1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. II. 212 Up started the ostlers..unstrapping, and unchaining, and unbuckling, and dragging willing horses out.
a. transitive. To set free, release, from a chain or chains; to remove the chain(s) from.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)] > free from a band, bond, etc.
undoc930
unbindc950
untrussc1400
untiec1450
ungird1485
ungirth1580
unchain1582
unbrace1593
ungirt1598
unpinion1660
unlash1699
release1779
disengirdle1871
1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias 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.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) v. iv. 2 Vnchaine your spirits now with spelling Charmes, And try if they can gaine your liberty. View more context for this quotation
1665 R. Howard & J. Dryden Indian-queen iii, in R. Howard Four New Plays 156 They may By force unchain, and crown him in a day.
1678 V. Alsop Melius Inquirendum i. ii. 89 When the Righteous God saw it necessary to unchain the Devil, and let him loose upon the English Protestants.
1704 M. Prior Prol. Her Majesty's Birth-day 37 So was his Fame compleat, and Andromede unchain'd.
1832 W. M. Praed Bridal of Belmont in Literary Souvenir 49 The young Count clambered down the rock, Unfurled the sail, unchained the oar.
1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in All Year Round 13 Oct. 14/1 He used his utmost influence to get the man unchained from the bedstead.
b. transferred and figurative. To set free; to liberate.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > liberation > set free [verb (transitive)] > free from restraint > of utterances, passions, or thoughts
unbridlea1440
unrein1567
unchain1793
unbottle1862
undam1885
1793 H. Walpole in M. Berry Extracts Jrnls. & Corr. (1865) I. 425 I unchain my impatience, which has behaved like an angel.
1796 S. T. Coleridge Destiny of Nations 111 Yet the wizard her..Forces to unchain the foodful progeny Of the Ocean stream.
1811 H. G. Knight Phrosyne 40 Stern Winter..Unleafs the forest, and unchains the wind.
1855 J. D. Burn Autobiogr. Beggar Boy i. 13 You may form some little opinion of my position when my father unchained his lawless desires.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Colonial 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 figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] > open by freeing of obstruction
openOE
ridlOE
unstop1398
uncumberc1440
redd1488
clear1530
unchoke1588
disencumber1598
disobstruct1611
unblock1611
unchain1616
deobstruct1653
unobstruct1659
free1690
rede1693
to open up1793
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] > open by freeing of obstruction > by barriers or chains
breaka1000
to break up1523
unchain1616
unbarricade1623
disbar1636
unbank1842
1616 W. Browne Britannia's Pastorals II. iii. 84 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.
1656 W. Davenant Siege of Rhodes iv. 27 Away, unchain the streets, unearth the Ports:.. And bravely sally out from all the Forts!
Derivatives
unˈchaining n.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > liberation > [noun] > from restraint
unmanacling1635
unmuzzling1769
unchaining1828
unbucklinga1859
1775 J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. Unchaining, the act of freeing from chains.]
1828 F. D. Hemans Carolan's Prophecy in Records of Woman (ed. 2) 188 Many stood, waiting around, in silent earnestness, Th' unchaining of his soul.
1871 B. Jerrold At Home in Paris II. ii. vii. 147 It was a wicked, reckless unchaining of the hates long nursed, of the two foremost military nations of the world.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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