unboltv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈbəʊlt/, U.S. /ˌənˈboʊlt/ 1. intransitive. Of a door: To have the bolt withdrawn.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > become open [verb (intransitive)] > of a door, gate, etc. > be unbolted, unbarred, etc.
unlocka1470
unbolt1470
unlatch1742
unbar1748
unsneck1948
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur xi. i. 571 And when he came to the chamber..the dores of yron vnlocked and vnbolted.
1680 T. Otway Orphan iii. 36 (stage direct.) The Door unbolts.
1711 S. Centlivre Mar-plot ii. i. 12 Ha! the Door unbolts, which way shall I get rid of this Puppy?
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa IV. l. 291 I heard her lady's door, with hasty violence, unbar, unbolt, unlock, and open.
2. † c. absol. To unfold, explain. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To draw back the bolt of, to unfasten (a door, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] > a door, gate, etc. > unlock, unbolt, etc.
undoc950
unloukOE
unsparc1175
unsteekc1250
unpinc1300
unshutc1315
loosec1400
unbarc1400
unlockc1400
open?a1425
unbolt1598
unlatchc1625
unpadlock1769
unsneck1785
undub1807
unslot1827
unsnib1905
snick1927
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Discadenacciare, to vnboult a doore, to vnbar.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iv. ii. 3 Ile call mine vnckle downe, Hee shall vnbolt the gates. View more context for this quotation
1650 Alsop Serm. in A. B. Grosart Small Sins (1863) 75 (note) They bring little boys along with them,..who..unbolt the doors, and let in the whole company of thieves.
1769 Philos. Trans. 1768 (Royal Soc.) 58 7 I tried the experiment of unbolting my windows.
1770 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. xvii. 236 He..unbolted a door that opened into a garden.
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe II. vi. 92 The hermit speedily unbolted his portal.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxvii. 277 Putting his arm over the half-door of the bar, coolly unbolting it, and leisurely walking in.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Æneid ii, in tr. Virgil in Eng. Verse 121 [They] unbolt Troy's gates, to the hosts of the fleet Entrance give.
b. In figurative contexts.
ΚΠ
1601 A. Dent Plaine Mans Path-way to Heauen 286 To betray vs into the hands of Satan: yea to vnbolt the doore and let him in, to cut our throates.
1648 Bp. J. Hall Breathings Devout Soul xl. 66 To enable me with strength to turn the key, and to unbolt this unweldy bar of my soul.
1828 T. Brown Serm. 116 We cannot unbolt or break open the gate of the temple of Knowledge.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > expound, explain [verb (transitive)]
arecchec885
unloukOE
overrunOE
sutelec1000
trahtnec1000
unfolda1050
belayc1175
openc1175
onopena1200
accountc1300
undo?a1366
remenea1382
interpret1382
unwrap1387
exploitc1390
enlumine1393
declarec1400
expoundc1400
unplait?c1400
enperc1420
planea1425
clearc1440
exponec1440
to lay outc1440
to give (also carry) lightc1449
unwind1482
expose1483
reducea1500
manifest1530
explicate1531
explaina1535
unlock?1536
dilucidate1538
elucidate1538
illustrate1538
rechec1540
explicate1543
illucidate1545
enucleate1548
unsnarl1555
commonstrate1563
to lay forth1577
straighten1577
unbroid1577
untwist1577
decipherc1586
illuminate1586
enlighten1587
resolvec1592
cipher1594
eliquidate1596
to take (a person) with one1599
rivelc1600
ravel1604
unbowel1606
unmist1611
extricate1614
unbolta1616
untanglea1616
enode1623
unperplexa1631
perspicuate1634
explata1637
unravel1637
esclarea1639
clarify1642
unweave1642
detenebrate1646
dismystery1652
undecipher1654
unfork1654
unparadox1654
reflect1655
enodate1656
unmysterya1661
liquidatea1670
recognize1676
to clear upa1691
to throw sidelight on1726
to throw (also cast, shed) light on (also upon)1731
eclaircise1754
irradiate1864
unbraid1880
predigest1905
to get (something) straight1920
disambiguate1960
demystify1963
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) i. i. 52 Painter. How shall I vnderstand you? Poet. I will vnboult to you. View more context for this quotation
3. To withdraw, draw back (a bolt).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with nails > draw back bolt with nail, etc.
unbolt1663
1663 Marquis of Worcester Cent. Names & Scantlings Inventions §69 To bolt and unbolt..an hundred Bolts through fifty Staples, two in each.
4. To detach by the removal of bolts.
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
1793 Trans. Soc. Arts (ed. 2) 5 207 By unbolting and taking off the side pipe.
Derivatives
unˈbolting n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > [noun] > action or process of opening > unbolting
undrawing1797
unbolting1829
1775 J. Ash New Dict. Eng. Lang. Unbolting, the act of unbarring, the act of loosening the bolt.]
1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein II. vii. 222 The noise of the unbolting and unbarring of the gates.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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