unclaspv.
/ˌʌnˈklɑːsp/, /ˌʌnˈklasp/, /ˌʌŋˈklɑːsp/, /ˌʌŋˈklasp/, U.S. /ˌənˈklæsp/ 1.
a. transitive. To unfasten the clasp or clasps of; to undo, unfasten.In quot. 1850 intransitive: to open.
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
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 766/2 I pray you, unclaspe my boke, for I am nat stronge ynough.
1598 L. A. tr. G. Fernandez Honour of Chiualrie xxiii. 137 Before wee proceede any thing further (said Don Bellianis) vnclaspe your helme.
1613 J. Stephens Cinthia's Revenge sig. E4v I must vnclaspe A volume, which may preiudice my life.
a1667 Bp. J. Taylor Antiquitates Christianae (1675) i. 49 He..does unclasp the golden rings that tie the purple upon the Prince's shoulder.
a1708 T. Ward England's Reformation (1715) II. iv. 129 Unclasping it [sc. a book], he reads and prays.
1798 M. Edgeworth & R. L. Edgeworth Pract. Educ. I. iii. 87 A little boy..trying to clasp and unclasp a lady's bracelet.
1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel v. xxiv. 147 His beaver did he not unclasp.
1850 T. T. Lynch Memorials Theophilus Trinal vi. 110 The jaws of their grave shall unclasp.
1891 F. W. Farrar Darkness & Dawn I. xiv. 121 He unclasped the armlet from his wrist.
1909 Lippincott's Monthly Mag. June 747 Unclasping a bracelet from her wrist, she clasped it about his.
1954 Pop. Sci. July 152/2 Before you go down, make a safety check to be sure that you can unclasp the belt with zipper speed in an emergency.
2016 Birmingham Mail (Nexis) 17 Mar. They unclasped her own necklace and bracelet without her knowledge.
b. transitive. In figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > book > [verb (transitive)]
unclasp1546
1546 S. Gardiner Declar. True Articles f. xxiiiv We enterpryse to vnclaspe the boke of lyfe, and wyll presume to deuour thapple of secret knowledge.
1592 S. Daniel Delia i Heere I vnclaspe the booke of my charg'd soule.
1633 W. Drummond Entertainm. Charles King of Great Brit. 20 Heavens volume to unclaspe, wast pages spread, Mysterious golden cyphers cleere to reade.
1696 J. Aubrey Miscellanies i. 23 Many Men believe..that the events of future times will unclasp and unseal a considerable portion of the Apocalypse.
1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) xvi. xvii. 246 Disrobe me of my Beauty..; Unclasp my joints; unlace my nerves.
1791 ‘A. Pasquin’ Shrove Tuesday 47 Your Sophs and Seers, and Magi of the land, Who oft unclasp the pocket-book of Fate.
1845 Encycl. Metrop. 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.
1911 H. D. Porter William Scott Ament xxv. 347 The angel, Death, like an armor bearer, unclasped the harness of the weary warrior.
2014 M. Johnson Teashop on Corner xxviii. 130 His smell wafted across to her..unclasping the lock in a part of a brain that said do not open under any circumstances.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)]
unwryc825
unhelec1000
to draw forthc1175
unhillc1200
to bring forth?c1225
unsteekc1250
let witc1275
uncovera1300
wraya1300
knowc1300
barea1325
shrivec1374
unwrapc1374
again-covera1382
nakena1382
outc1390
tellc1390
disclosea1393
cough1393
unhidea1400
unclosec1400
unhaspc1400
bewrayc1405
reveal1409
accusea1413
reveil1424
unlocka1425
unrekec1425
disclude?1440
uncurec1440
utter1444
detect1447
break1463
expose1483
divinec1500
revelate1514
to bring (also put) to light1526
decipher1529
rake1547
rip1549
unshadow1550
to lay to sight1563
uppen1565
unlace1567
unvisor?1571
resign1572
uncloak1574
disshroud1577
spill1577
reap1578
unrip1579
scour1585
unharboura1586
unmask1586
uncase1587
descrya1591
unclasp?1592
unrive1592
discover1594
unburden1594
untomb1594
unhusk1596
dismask1598
to open upc1600
untruss1600
divulge1602
unshale1606
unbrace1607
unveil1609
rave1610
disveil1611
unface1611
unsecret1612
unvizard1620
to open up1624
uncurtain1628
unscreen1628
unbare1630
disenvelop1632
unclothe1632
to lay forth1633
unshroud1633
unmuffle1637
midwife1638
dissecret1640
unseal1640
unmantle1643
to fetch out1644
undisguise1655
disvelop1658
decorticate1660
clash1667
exert1692
disinter1711
to up with1715
unbundlea1739
develop1741
disembosom1745
to open out1814
to let out1833
unsack1846
uncrown1849
to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861
unfrock1866
disbosom1868
to blow the lid off1928
flush1950
surface1955
to take or pull the wraps off1964
?1592 Trag. Solyman & Perseda sig. D My tongue to tell my woes is all to weake, I must vnclaspe me, or my heart will breake.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. i. 306 I will..tell faire Hero I am Claudio, And in her bosome ile vnclaspe my heart. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iii. ii. 166 He..to my Kingly Guest Vnclasp'd my practise.
1637 N. Whiting Le Hore di Recreatione 5 All had their speakers which unclasp'd their graces.
3.
a. intransitive. To relax a grip or hold. Also: to come apart from a reciprocal grasp or embrace.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > releasing hold > let go [verb (intransitive)] > loosen grip or grasp
unclasp1596
1596 R. Johnson Famous Hist. Seauen Champions vi. 66 Yet shall these tender handes of mine which neuer shal vnclaspe, but hang vpon thy horse bridle.
1609 W. Shakespeare Pericles vii. 110 Vnclaspe, vnclaspe... Thankes Gentlemen to all. View more context for this quotation
1851 H. W. Longfellow Golden Legend ii. 80 I feel my feeble hands unclasp, And sink discouraged into night!
1882 Frank Leslie's Pleasant Hours 31 204 She felt his arms placed feebly about her neck, holding her there for..only a moment, for they soon unclasped slowly.
1929 S. Lewis Dodsworth v. 37 Then forward, and the people along the rail..honey-mooners quickly unclasping as the pestiferous deck-circlers passed.
1981 Washington Post (Nexis) 16 Oct. The crowd cheers, the adrenaline pumps, Jackson's taped hands clasp and unclasp on the bat handle.
2012 Times (Nexis) 20 Oct. 8 His hands never unclasped in the full half hour of the parliamentary horror show that unfolded.
b. transitive. To loosen the grip or hold of (a hand, arm, etc.); to open or force open (a clasped hand). Also: to loosen (a hold or grasp).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > releasing hold > let go (something held or grasped) [verb (transitive)] > loosen the grasp or hold of
unclasp1603
unclutch1653
unclench1712
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)] > unbind or unclasp
lithec897
unclasp1603
1603 W. Shakespeare Hamlet sig. D2v Small while he stoode, but gripes me by the wrist, And there he holdes my pulse till with a sigh He doth vnclaspe his holde.
1627 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia (new ed.) iv. G v His fresh limmes vnclaspe the others hands.
1682 J. Flavell Righteous Man's Refuge in Pract. Treat. Fear (new ed.) 251 Neither of them..can unclasp the arms of Divine Love.
1700 A. Boyer Achilles v. i. 43 Death, Death alone is able to unclasp My grasping Hands from Iphigenia.
1798 T. Gisborne Poems 88 Resign'd she stills her plaintive woes; Unclasps her hands, the gushing sorrow dries.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake ii. 90 Sullen and slowly, they unclasp, As struck with shame, their desperate grasp.
1898 ‘H. S. Merriman’ Roden's Corner i. 10 Von Holzen..softly unclasped the dead man's hand, taking from it the crumpled notes.
1911 F. Powell Old Maid's Vengeance xxiii. 315 Ulaszlo stopped her, passing his arm about her... Elinor drew back from him sharply, and tried to unclasp his arm.
1939 Pop. Aviation Feb. 84/2 I clasp and unclasp my fingers on the ‘stick’.
1965 Ebony Mar. 36/1 For nearly 45 minutes the young man had sat stiffly.., nervously clasping and unclasping his hands.
2015 P. Hawkins Girl on Train 80 Gaskill unclasped his hands and spread them out, palms upwards, in front of him.
c. transitive. To release from a clasp or grip; to let go of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > releasing hold > let go (something held or grasped) [verb (transitive)]
beleavea1250
leta1325
to let goc1384
to leave hold1556
to turn loose?1566
quita1586
unhand1603
relinquish1651
unseize1663
unfist1692
to leave go1776
unclasp1868
to loose hold1875
1868 L. M. Alcott Little Women I. xx. 289 She would not unclasp the thin hand which clung to hers, even in sleep.
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay ix. 142 He remained silent for a minute, his hands clasping and unclasping the arms of his chair.
1918 Amer. Mag. Art July 367/1 The little boy whose hand could not be withdrawn from the jar because it would not unclasp the penny found therein.
1989 Courier-Mail (Melbourne) (Nexis) 7 Aug. She unclasped my hand..and took on the appearance of a distressed person in dire need of disinfecting a right hand.
2013 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 17 Sept. 25 Suddenly, he unclasps the handlebars and stretches out his arms.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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