verb · transitive · rare

unloose

un·loose

unloose · unlooses · unloosed · unloosing

To loosen or undoTo loosen or undo (something that entangles, fastens, holds, or interlocks).

UK/(ˌ)ʌnˈluːs/US/ˌʌnˈlus/

» He sprang up and rushed across the stable to unloose the dog.

Meaning

6 senses

(also, figuratively, transitive)To loosen or undo (something that entangles, fastens, holds, or interlocks).
(also, figuratively, transitive)To relax or slacken (something that clasps or grips, such as the arms or hands).
(transitive)To free (someone or something) from a constraint; (figuratively) to release (something which has been suppressed, such as emotions or objectionable things).
(intransitive)To become loose or come off.
(also, figuratively, intransitive)To free from a constraint.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
(archaic, transitive)To remove or take off (especially something undesirable).

Examples

2 sentences

He sprang up and rushed across the stable to unloose the dog.
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When they had reached the common where the geese fed, she sat down and unloosed her hair, which was of pure gold.
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Origin

From Middle English unlosen (“to loosen, untie; to uncover, unwrap; to extend; to free, li

From Middle English unlosen (“to loosen, untie; to uncover, unwrap; to extend; to free, liberate, release; to disengage; to detach oneself; to make (someone) weak; to abolish; to destroy”) [and other forms], from un- (intensifying prefix) + losen (“to free, let loose, release; to loosen, untie; to come undone or unfastened; to open; to relax; to remove; to melt; to resolve; to break up, disintegrate; to detach, disengage; to destroy; to say, tell; to absolve of sin”) (from los (“free; loose, untied; exempt; absolved of sin; inattentive, undisciplined; of the tongue: lacking restraint, unbridled; limp, weak; wavering”), from Old Norse lauss (“loose”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewH- (“to separate; to set free; to untie”)). The English word is analysable as un- (intensifying prefix) + loose. Compare Middle English unlesen (“to loosen, release”), from Old English onlīesan (“to release, deliver, liberate, unloose”).

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