| 释义 |
unˈclasp, v.
[un-2 3 and 7.]
1. trans. To unfasten the clasp(s) of.
1530Palsgr. 766/2, I pray you, unclaspe my boke, for I am nat stronge ynough. 1592Soliman & Pers. ii. i. 85, I must vnclaspe me, or my heart will breake. 1611Cotgr., Desagrafer, to vnclaspe, vngraple, vnhaspe. a1699J. Beaumont Psyche xvi. xvii, Disrobe me of my Beauty..; Unclasp my Joints; unlace my nerves. 1798Edgeworth Pract. Educ. (1811) I. 110 A little boy..trying to clasp and unclasp a lady's bracelet. 1805Scott Last Minstr. v. xxiv, His beaver did he not unclasp. 1859Tennyson Elaine 975 Then, when she heard his horse upon the stones, Unclasping flung the casement back. 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xiv, He unclasped the armlet from his wrist.
b. In fig. context.
1592Daniel Delia i, Heere I vnclaspe the booke of my charg'd soule. 1607Dekker Hist. Sir T. Wyatt Wks. 1873 III. 100 When ere the blacke booke of my crime's vnclaspt. 1633Drummond of Hawthornden Entertainm. Chas. I, ii. 31 Heavens volume to unclaspe, wast pages spread, Mysterious golden cyphers cleere to reade. 1833–4Encycl. Metrop. (1845) VI. 688/2 It will be prudent before thus entangling ourselves in fetters which it may be difficult to unclasp, to wait for a full investigation of the subject.
†c. fig. To open up, display. Obs.
1599Shakes. Much Ado i. i. 325, I will..tell faire Hero I am Claudio, And in her bosome Ile unclaspe my heart. 1611― Wint. T. iii. ii. 168 He..to my Kingly Guest Vnclasp'd my practise. 1637N. Whiting Albino & Bellama 5 All had their speakers which unclasp'd their graces.
2. To loosen the grasp or hold of; to open or force open (the clasped hand).
1627May Lucan iv. G v, His fresh limmes vnclaspe the others hands. 1681J. Flavel Right Man's Ref. 251 Neither of them..can unclasp the arms of divine love. 1810Scott Lady of L. ii. xxxiv, Sullen and slowly they unclasp, As struck with shame, their desperate grasp. 1831James Phil. Augustus iv, Unclasping his arms from the slight, beautiful form round which they were thrown. 1898‘Merriman’ Roden's Corner i, Von Holzen..softly unclasped the dead man's hand, taking from it the crumpled notes.
b. intr. To relax a grip or grasp.
1608Shakes. Per. ii. iii. 107 Vnclaspe, vnclaspe. Thankes Gentlemen to all. 1751Smollett Per. Pic. xxix, The cudgel flew from his unclasping hand. 1850Lynch Theoph. Trinal vi. 110 The jaws of their grave shall unclasp. 1851Longfellow Gold. Leg. ii. Village Church, I feel my feeble hands unclasp, And sink discouraged into night!
3. trans. To release from a clasp or grip.
1885‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay ix, He remained silent for a minute, his hands clasping and unclasping the arms of his chair.
Hence unˈclasping vbl. n.
1592Soliman & Pers. ii. i. 87 But inward cares are most pent in with greefe; Vnclasping, therefore, yeeldes me no releefe. 1599B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. ii. ii, A whole volume of humour, and worthy the vnclasping. |