unlinkv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈlɪŋk/, U.S. /ˌənˈlɪŋk/ 1.
a. transitive. To put an end to the association or relationship of (a person or thing) with something or someone; to disconnect or dissociate (persons or things). Frequently with from.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > detach [verb (transitive)] > detach in other specific manner
unnaila1400
to pull offa1425
nipc1450
unlink1569
unhook1611
unhinge1616
unsling1630
to pinch off1654
untack1693
unstring1697
peel1787
unbolt1793
unthong1829
unswing1835
unshackle1840
unsnap1862
unbraze1898
delink1899
1569 J. Leslie Def. Honour Marie Quene of Scotl. iii. f. 135 Yt ys most naturall, the dawghter to inherite her fathers patrimonie, Where vnto yf there be a dignitie annexed, bothe are so vnited and knitt together, that they can in no wise be vnlinked.
1637 J. Day New Spring Divine Poetrie 38 Thou dost once unlinke These mercies from us: O how soone we sinke.
1655 R. Crab in Harl. Misc. (1809) IV. 483 Those that will not unlink themselves from the world.
a1680 S. Charnock Several Disc. Existence of God (1682) 651 He doth..correct those actions, that unlink the mutual assistance between Man and Man.
1742 F. Blyth Serm. Every Sunday II. 265 Once we have embraced the Good, to cling so closely to it, as that nor Earth nor Aught of earthly may be able to unlink us from it.
1849 H. Mayo On Truths Pop. Superstit. v. 79 The attention alone slumbers. Or through some slight organic change it is unlinked from the other faculties.
1902 S. H. Church Penruddock of White Lambs xxiii. 156 When duty links you to the King, it unlinks you from me.
1969 Science 21 Mar. 1314/3 Dumont's mind is fertile, facile, and inventive, and he never unlinks himself from his early chosen role of healer-scientist.
2003 Eighteenth-Cent. Stud. 37 69 Analytic theory unlinks the social and biological aspects of paternity from the symbolic position which depends on neither.
b. transitive. To break the physical connection between (persons or things), esp. by undoing or unfastening a link or chain; to detach or release (a person or thing) in this way. Frequently with from. Also intransitive. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separate [verb (transitive)] > disjoin, disunite, or disconnect
unlime?c1225
unjoin1340
discouplec1440
disannex1459
disjoin1483
uncouplea1533
unjoint1565
sejoin1568
sejungate1578
unknit1580
disjoint1582
unlinkc1585
uncombine1595
disunite1598
sejunge1598
discombine1603
injoint1603
dislink1610
unthreada1616
unyokea1616
sejugate1623
disconnect1758
dijunge1768
unconnect1796
disally1864
c1585 Let. of Estate in Notes & Queries (1981) Feb. 24/1 Yett hath hee so unlinked and unmoseled him selfe as where hee bightes the remedie is curelesse.
1642 Friers Last Fare-well sig. A3v Another..would have had us tied a-row in our Copes, like Gally-slaves;..and what Coach..had chanced to have come by, he must have had the patience till one of our poore Fathers had been unlinked.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iii. xix. 153/1 March to your horses. Vnlink your horses. Fasten your links.
1720 J. Dart tr. Tibullus Wks. iv. 238 Unlink the Hounds, and cheer them in the Chace.
1797 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry (rev. ed.) App. 250 The men move up to their horses and unlink.
1802 J. Baillie Ethwald: Pt. Second iv. iii, in Series Plays II. 322 (The chiefs instantly let go hands, and stand gazing upon one another.) First Pr. Ha! have I then so suddenly unlink'd you?
1880 Secrets Anc. & Mod. Magic 49 Unlinking the lower ring, he takes up the set of two, and connects them with the key ring.
1916 Factory Oct. 404 Many [belt hooks and fasteners] depend upon the removal of a pin to unlink the two ends.
2011 Independent 28 Mar. 8/4 Riot police pushed those who exited into a small area where they were unlinked by force, photographed, arrested and led away.
2. transitive. To unfasten (a chain); to undo (the links of a chain). Hence: to break (a connection, association, etc.); to take apart.
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)] > undo specific fastening
unbucklec1386
unnail1485
unclasp1530
unsolder1538
disbuckle1562
unpin1587
unrivet1591
unlink1595
unloop1599
unpeg1604
unhasp1610
uncord1611
unhoop1611
unwedge1611
unsplint1615
refibulate1623
replumb1623
unlatchc1625
unscrew1651
unclamp1655
unrope1673
unstring1681
unlash1796
unkey1802
unspring1802
unwire1823
unstrap1828
unscotch1839
unclap1846
unspike1846
uncramp1851
unspear1859
untoggle1859
unsnap1862
undraw1872
disbutton1887
uncinch1891
disimpale1904
unzip1927
zip1927
unzipper1936
1595 A. Golding tr. J. Hurault Politicke, Moral, & Martial Disc. iii. xix. 475 They cast off their chaines, (which were disposed in such sort as they might vnlinke them when they list).
1612 J. Boys Autumne Part 143 Vnlinke the phrase, and you shall finde a Gospell in euery word.
1635 F. Quarles Emblemes v. ix. 278 I cannot mount till thou unlink my chaine.
a1670 G. Rust Disc. Truth (1682) 185 It will unlink and break that chain and method of Gods Decrees.
1719 R. Samber tr. A. Godeau Penitential Tables I. vii. 125 A Chain that is forcibly broken will make too much Noise; it wou'd be much better to unlink it without any ones Notice.
1769 Another Estimate Manners & Princ. Present Times 12 The villain who sows the seeds of variance between societies, and unlinks the bonds of friendship and amity.
1856 T. De Quincey Confessions Eng. Opium-eater (rev. ed.) in Select. Grave & Gay V. 154 Those fatally tortuous paths of which the windings can never be unlinked.
1890 T. De W. Talmage From Manger to Throne 639 The chain of the most tremendous natural law is unlinked.
1937 Musical Q. 23 382 The single-file chain [of dancers] unlinks itself and resolves itself into separate couples.
1992 Representations 37 94 Detaching speaker from utterance, intention from meaning, irony unlinks the entire communicative chain of narrator, character, author, and reader.
3. intransitive. To become detached or no longer linked (physically or figuratively).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separate, come, or go apart [verb (intransitive)] > become disjoined or disconnected
discombine1603
unlink1642
disunite1675
unknit1748
unjoint1777
disconnect1790
disarticulate1830
1642 J. Milton Reason Church-govt. 15 To make a King a type, we say is an abusive and unskilfull speech... Therefore your typical chaine of King and Priest must unlink.
1706 E. Vernon Corona Civica 7 Fetters unlink'd, Bolts shiver'd as You spoke, The Ax grew blunted, and the Fasces broke.
1786 W. Gilpin in M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1862) 2nd Ser. III. 372 We travelled amicably, arm in arm,..we had not one occasion to unlink.
1806 H. Siddons Maid, Wife, & Widow III. 44 He felt her arms unlink, and saw that a convulsive fit had put an end to all her recollections.
1841 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Mar. 419/1 The whole succession of causes to which British grandeur may be traced, all must unlink, lose their connection, and perish separately.
1901 C. Morris Authentic Life William McKinley xxi. 344 The policeman tried to get them to separate, but..Unlink they would not.
2007 ‘J. D. Robb’ Innocent in Death xiii. 220 Her neatly folded hands unlinked to press palms against the table.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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