unlacev.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈleɪs/, U.S. /ˌənˈleɪs/ 1.
a. transitive. To open, unfasten, or loosen by undoing the lace or laces of; esp. to unfasten or loosen (a piece of clothing, footwear, armour, etc.) by undoing the laces with which it is secured or tightened.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > undressing or removing clothing > undress or remove clothing [verb (transitive)] > take off clothing > unfasten garments or fastenings
unbuttonc1325
unlacec1330
untruss1577
unlatch1590
unpin1599
unhook1840
unzip1927
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)] > loosen or weaken the attachment of
unfastena1250
unlacec1330
loosec1400
solvec1450
unsettle1598
unfix1600
uncement1639
discardinate1648
loosen1667
c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 470 (MED) His helme of his heued he nam & vnlaced his ventayle.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. xcvi. 1247 Þat kynde of apes..may vnlace þe schoone and delyuere of hem.
a1425 (?c1350) Ywain & Gawain (1964) l. 2724 Sum to stabil led his stede, And sum also unlaced his wede.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 2426 He vnlacyd his mantell.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 48 He unlaced hys helme and gate hym wynde.
1554 Hawes' Pastime of Pleasure (new ed.) xxxv. sig. Y.iii A downe I came, and did then vnlace His seuenth helmet.
1592 Countess of Pembroke tr. R. Garnier Antonius iv. sig. M4 His armor he vnlaste, and cast it of.
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice ii. v. 31 Vnlace his [sc. a horse's] saker and take it away, rubbing the docke of his tayle drie with a Wollen cloath.
1652 C. B. Stapylton tr. Herodian Imperiall Hist. 129 His Purple Coat he 'gins for to Unlace.
1722 R. Beverley Hist. Virginia (ed. 2) iii. viii. 166 We found..three Mats, each of which was roll'd up, and sow'd fast. These we handed down to the Light, and to save time in unlacing the Seams, we made use of a Knife and ripp'd them.
1763 Brit. Mag. 4 286 I lace and unlace ladies stays of the first fashion, every day of my life.
1838 W. Ware Last Days Aurelian vi. 200 He fell to unlacing his pack and drawing forth its treasures.
1888 J. Payn Myst. Mirbridge viii She instantly busied herself..in unlacing her boots.
1927 F. M. Thrasher Gang iii. xv. 301 I started to take off my shoes. As I unlaced them, I thought of how it looked.
1957 Times 27 Dec. 8/7 He [sc. a baboon] handled the ball again and tried to unlace it with his teeth.
2000 B. Kingsolver Prodigal Summer xvi. 255 She..sat down on the bed with a put-out sigh, and began unlacing her soaked boots.
b.
(a) transitive. To unfasten or remove the clothing, armour, etc., from (a person, the body, etc.); to release or free from a bodice, corset, or other garment by undoing or loosening a lace or laces. Also: to untie or let down (the hair).
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > undressing or removing clothing > undress or remove clothing [verb (transitive)] > strip or undress a person > unfasten
unlacea1375
unbutton1598
unpin1609
disenwrap1611
undo1633
untruss1637
unhook1840
unzip1939
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3200 Þe quen kauȝt a knif & komli hire-selue william & his worþi fere swiftli vn-laced out of þe hidous hidus.
c1440 (?a1400) Sir Perceval (1930) l. 786 Gawayn doun lyghte, Vnlacede þe Rede Knyghte.
c1475 Court of Sapience (Trin. Cambr.) (1927) l. 194 (MED) Mercy..gan vnlase her tressyd sonnysh here.
c1475 (a1400) Sir Amadace (Taylor) in J. Robson Three Early Eng. Metrical Romances (1842) 48 The kingus doȝtur that wasse gente Vnlasutte the knyȝte, to mete thay wente.
a1524 W. Cornyshe in Early 16th Cent. Lyrics (1907) 82 Ther wyth reuyued sche, and her smalle wast ful fast vnlast.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xii. sig. X6 She lay for dead, till I helpt with vnlasing her.
1606 No-body & Some-body sig. E4v Good Queene that shall be, lends a helping hand, Helpe to vnlace her.
1697 J. Vanbrugh Æsop ii. i Euph. Unlace me, or I shall swoon. Dor. Unlace you! why, you are not there abouts, I hope?
1729 R. Samber tr. C. Perrault Histories iii. 38 They threw water upon the Princess's face, unlaced her.., and rubbed her temples.
1785 T. Holcroft in tr. Comtesse de Genlis Tales Castle I. 23 She unlaced her, took off her neck ribband, and Delphine again began to breathe.
1835 Parterre 22 Aug. 125/1 She ran up to her, and..hastily unlaced her bosom, to look if she had, under the left breast, a small white mark or mole, with which her infant was born.
1855 M. A. E. Green Lives Princesses Eng. (new ed.) VI. 557 She was undressed immediately; I supported her whilst she was unlaced.
a1861 T. Woolner Night in My Beautiful Lady (1864) 38 I wonder whether She now her braided opulent hair unlace.
1922 Boston Post 24 June 12/8 The Yale crew was seen to stop rowing. Then one after the other they unlaced their feet from the pedals and dived overboard.
1930 Nash's & Pall Mall Mag. Apr. 102/3 Her woman had unlaced her long ago; she was wearing a loose robe embroidered with countless little nosegays.
2009 C. March Brigadier's Daughter (2011) 25 It would be unkind to keep Polly awake all night just to unlace us, when we can very well do it for ourselves.
(b) transitive (reflexive). To unfasten the laces of one's clothing in order to undress. Also intransitive in the same sense.In quot. a1500: †to divest oneself of a garment.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > undressing or removing clothing > undress or remove clothing [verb (reflexive)] > unfasten
unlacea1450
untruss1786
a1450 York Plays (1885) 293 My lorde, vn-lase you to lye, Here schall none come for to crye.
a1500 (?a1475) Guy of Warwick (Cambr. Ff.2.38) l. 8206 Ȝelde the..vnto me And of thy harnes vnlace the.
1648 R. Herrick Hesperides sig. N3v (title of poem) Upon Julia's unlacing her self.
c1680 in Roxburghe Ballads (1891) VII. 459 Do no less, then undress, and unlace, all a-pace.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Swoon To make him lie on his Back, to unbutton or unlace.
?1760 London, Oxf., Cambr. Coffee-House 25 I unlaced myself and laced myself again; I pulled off my Petticoats, and put them on again.
1854 C. B. Greatrex Whittlings from West xiv. 88 Marie..at the same time whipping off her head-dress, depositing it pleasantly upon the bed-post, and beginning to unlace.
1884 Obstetr. Gaz. July 343 She persisted even after her labor had commenced in remaining tightly laced..and would not be persuaded to unlace herself.
1938 Manch. Guardian 7 Jan. 18/1 The Mayor unlaced himself, and we were surprised to see how stout he was.
1980 O. Luening Odyssey of Amer. Composer ii. 37 After the ball was over Mama Cinderella would unlace and unbuckle, and at 5:00 a.m. she would be on the job making oatmeal on the kitchen stove.
2012 K. Forsyth Bitter Greens (2014) 312 You'll have to undo my stays. I cannot unlace myself.
c. transitive. To loosen or remove (a cord, rope, etc.) which has been laced, woven, or threaded through something else; to unthread. Also in extended use: to disentwine; to separate (things previously interlaced or interwoven).
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)] > untwist, unravel, etc.
untwinec1407
unlacea1450
untwindc1460
untwist1538
unweave1542
distwine1562
feaze1568
unpleat1572
unspin1587
unplat1589
unwreathe1591
unreave1593
unravel1603
ravel1607
unwrithe1611
uncluea1616
unwork1623
unperplex1660
untwirla1703
unlay1726
disentwine1814
unbraid1828
unmesha1849
disintertwine1861
unplait1865
tiffle out1880
unleeze1889
a1450 Ministry & Passion of Christ (St. John's Cambr.) (1984) l. 32 (MED) A strengere þer comyth, after me þat I am not wurþi to vndon Ne to onlace syttynge on kne þe þongys of his schon.
1766 Museum Rusticum 6 39 The remaining parts of my cords were unlaced for the drawing together of my bundle.
1830 Waldie's Sel. Circulating Lib. 2 July 185/3 Cameron undid the parcel..and after twisting convulsively the useless cords which he had unlaced, he looked on the direction, and a few big tears pattered on to the thick brown paper.
1870 Student & Schoolmate Nov. 518 She sang to it [sc. her baby] without unlacing the cords to relieve the child's limbs from the uncomfortable pressure which troubled it.
1874 London Jrnl. 7 Nov. 291/2 Her fingers lace and unlace themselves nervously.
1917 Evening Independent (Massillon, Ohio) 23 Jan. 6/5 I unlaced her arms from my neck.
1944 Metropolitan Mus. of Art Bull. 3 28/1 After the sheet was finished this lashing was cut or unlaced and the heavy cord withdrawn.
1979 New Scientist 10 May 446/3 The tape is automatically unlaced from the rotating video drum whenever the machine switches into a rewind or fast-forward mode.
1988 ‘E. Peters’ Rare Benedictine (1990) 82 Carefully he detached candle from holder, and unlaced from it a long, pale hair.
2007 J. Barrington Foxbat i. 11 He swiftly unlaced the cord from the eyelets.
d. transitive. To unfasten and remove (a thing) by undoing a lace or laces by which it is attached or held in place; to detach (a thing) from something to which it is attached in this way. Originally Nautical: to undo the ropes or cords fastening (a bonnet, save-all, etc.) to a sail; to unfasten and remove (this part of a sail) (cf. lace v. 1d).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > directing or managing a ship > use of sails, spars, or rigging > carry specific amount of sail [verb (transitive)] > strike or take in (sails) > unlace bonnet
unlace1605
1605 First & Second Pt. Hist. Euordanus ii. ii. sig. N2v Willing his company to take in their top sayles, and also to unlace theyr drablets and bonnets.
1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. ii. 16 The Wind blows a fresh Gale... Unlease your Bonnets.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Transl. French Terms at Délacer la bonnette To unlace or take off the bonnet from the foot of a sail.
1774 J. Cook Jrnl. 1 July (1969) II. 448 I am not sure if when plying to wind ward they do not unlace that part of the Sail from the yard which is between the Tack and the Mast head.
1864 H. C. Folkard Wild-Fowler xv. 87 Two nets will be found sufficient, as they may be unlaced from one set of poles, and transferred to others.
1885 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 15 360 The belts..could be removed from the shafting altogether by being unrivetted or unlaced.
1922 Outers' Rec. Jan. 23/2 The sill..was made so it could be unlaced from the grommets at its edges and the whole thing turned back.
1990 Dauphin (Manitoba) Herald 10 July (People section) b1 The hide is unlaced from the wooden frame.
2013 T. Cunliffe Pilot Cutters under Sail iii. 41/2 There was therefore no messy roll of canvas at the foot with the sail shortened, as is invariably otherwise the case with a loose-footed sail reefed in a hurry at sea. The bonnet would simply have been unlaced.
e. intransitive. To be or become unfastened or undone as a result of the loosening of a lace or laces; to admit of being unfastened or removed by unlacing.
ΚΠ
1783 R. Macpherson Diss. Preservative from Drowning 17 The strings..are laced through the button holes, and then the end of the two strings on each side are tied together, so that they can never afterwards unlace.
1878 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 461/1 There are two ways of emptying the dredge; we may either turn it up and pour out its contents by the mouth, or we may have a contrivance by which the bottom of the bag is made to unlace.
1886 R. C. Leslie Sea-painter's Log iii. 41 With bonnet-pieces..made to unlace instead of reef.
1942 Mod. Hosp. Sept. 135 (advt.) Morning Glory Hospital Mattress... The outer ticking unlaces at the end and slips off easily for dry cleaning or replacement.
1984 M. Spark in Vanity Fair Dec. 35 She is wearing a practical maternity dress, which unlaces at the sides.
2008 Daily Tel. 11 Mar. 8/7 I was strutting around..when one of my sandals began to unlace. My legs crumpled beneath me.
2. transitive. To cut up, disembowel, or dismember (a game animal); to prepare (an animal, esp. a rabbit) to be cooked or eaten. Also: to cut off (the limb of an animal) in preparing it to be cooked or eaten. rare after 17th cent.Quot. 1939 is an isolated later example, probably drawing on an earlier source.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of meat > dress animals for food [verb (transitive)] > carve
shearc1330
unlacec1400
smitea1500
carve1529
to cut up1574
cuta1616
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1606 A wyȝe þat watȝ wys vpon wod-crafteȝ To vnlace þis bor lufly bigynneȝ.
a1450 Terms Assoc. in PMLA (1936) 51 604 Longing for keruers..a cheken y frushed,..a conynge vnlaced, a herone dysmembryde.
a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 142 Furst, vn-lace þe whynges, þe legges þan in sight.
1508 Bk. Keruynge (de Worde) Av Vnlace that conye.
1618 N. Breton Court & Country in Wks. (1879) II. 13/1 A Trencher must not be laid, nor a..Capon carued, nor a Rabbet vnlaced out of order.
a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) 78 'Tis no small difference, with what gesture men Of art vnlace a hare and spoil a hen.
1687 J. Shirley Accomplished Ladies Rich Closet of Rarities vii. 52 In unlacing a Coney. Turn the belly upwards, cutting the belly-pieces from the Kidneys.
a1756 E. Haywood New Present (1771) 269 To unlace a Rabbit.
1840 W. H. Ainsworth Tower of London 406 In the old terms of his art, he leached the brawn, reared the goose, sauced the capon..unlaced the rabbits.
1939 J. Joyce Finnegans Wake iii. 569 Unjoint him this bittern, frust me this chicken, display yon crane, thigh her her pigeon, unlace allay rabbit and pheasant!
3. With reference to figurative or metaphorical ties, bonds, etc.
a. transitive. To loosen; to make less tight or restrictive. Now rare.In quot. ?c1400 with reference to clarifying or understanding a complex argument.
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)]
unbindc950
undoc950
unleeseOE
breaka1225
unfest?c1225
leesea1325
loosena1382
unloosea1382
loose1388
resolvea1398
unlace?c1400
unfastenc1440
unloosen?a1475
to let slip1526
unbrace?1526
diffibulatea1538
unframe1567
unclit1587
undight1590
unclip1598
unclenchc1600
unreeve1600
unlock1609
ungrapple1611
unquilt1611
abstringe1623
renode1623
unspan1648
unfast1684
disengage1780
undub1807
unclap1846
?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iii. pr. xii. l. 2982 Scornest þou me..þat hast so wouen me wiþ þi resouns, þe house of didalus so entrelaced, þat it is vnable to ben vnlaced.
?c1425 T. Hoccleve Jonathas (Durh.) l. 231 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 224 The feruence Of loue..Was qweynt, & loues knotte was vnlaced.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn Prol. l. 67 [He] pryuelich vnlasid his both eyen liddes, And lokid hir in the visage.
1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 69 Thou mightest haue knowen him, that can Vnbutton thy vanity, and Vnlase thy folly.
1610 G. Fletcher Christs Victorie 81 An intire embrace That no satietie can ere vnlace.
1643 J. Ley Monitor of Mortality 21 Her gratious Father..gently unlaced the bonds of life, so that she departed, in such a calme and quiet manner.
1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) xvi. xvii. 246 Unlace my nerves; and try My finest tenderest membranes to unpin.
1846 U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Feb. 98/1 The little man would then unlace his dignity and condescend to be facetious.
1972 Winnipeg Free Press 6 Sept. 23/4 The file of 10,000 one-liners he's built..won't help him unlace her psychic bonds.
b. transitive. To release; to free from something considered binding or restrictive. Frequently reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > liberation > set free [verb (transitive)] > free from regulation or restriction
unlacea1555
derestrict1955
delicense1957
deregulate1964
unban1968
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > liberation > set free [verb (transitive)] > free from restraint > free from intellectual or moral restraint
unlacea1555
emancipate1646
liberalize1765
a1555 J. Philpot tr. C. S. Curione Def. Authority Christ's Church in R. Eden Exam. & Writings J. Philpot (1842) (modernized text) 327 By the gift of God my mind was a little and little unlaced from the knots of this foolish, or more rather false religion.
?1572 T. Paynell tr. Treasurie Amadis of Fraunce xi. i. 272 They doe lace and vnlace me with one lace. Loue dothe binde me togither and vnbindeth me.
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre ii. iv. 48 These Hospitallers afterwards getting wealth, unlaced themselves from the strictnesse of their first Institution.
1762 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VI. xi. 54 As if he had snatched the occasion of unlacing himself with a few more frolicksome strokes at vice, than the straitness of the pulpit allowed.
1782 W. R. Davie Let. 14 Apr. in W. Clark State Rec. N. Carolina (1899) XVI. 284 I should have felt a singular satisfaction in seeing you unlaced from the cares of State.
1904 Addresses 1900–03 (Liberal Club, Buffalo (N.Y.)) 138 People..who wish to be liberated from all bonds, who want to unlace themselves from the confinement of any restrictions whatever.
1988 H. Scott Shaman's Stone (1989) i. iv. 22 The antique desk was new to her, unlaced from cobwebs in the attic. A davenport, Daddy called it when he carried it down.
2008 A. H. Miller Burdens of Perfection iii. 98 Their eyes and hearts unsealed, themselves unlaced from the convenient harness of rules made in the past and made by others.
ΚΠ
?c1425 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Royal 17 D.vi) (1860) 88 Of his honour untrouthe a knyght unlacethe.
a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) l. 3652 Dignite had ben vnlaced And vngirt of honour.
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
1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xiv. f. 89 I purpose then to vnlace the dissolute liues of three amorouse dames.
1577 J. Grange Garden in Golden Aphroditis sig. Rivv Wherefore if my penne were able, well might I here vnlace my loyaltie.
1578 J. Keltridge Expos., & Readynges 199 But if God..will not spare the hipocrite, but vnlace his nakednesse to the worlde?
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis Ded. sig. Aiijv Yt may bee..I shal bee occasioned..too vnlace more, of theese mysteries.
1621 W. Gamage Linsi-woolsie C7 And askt what newes? who, sighing, did impart, Which to vnlace, said he, torments my heart.
1654 J. Crandon Mr. Baxters Aphorisms Exorized & Anthorized i. xix. 221 It will appear when Mr. Baxter comes to unlace, and rip abroad his Justifying Faith in its largest sense.
6. transitive. To cause damage to (something non-material, esp. a person's reputation); to destroy, ruin; to cause to fail.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to > binding relationships, vows, etc.
unbindc1175
unsteekc1250
loose1340
dissolvec1380
unknita1382
sundera1400
untwinec1400
unsolder1538
unlace1577
untwind1600
1577 J. Grange Garden in Golden Aphroditis sig. Qv Milecian maydes, your steppes I meane to trace, And as Lucrecia did, my lyfe for to vnlace.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 187 What's the matter That you vnlace your reputation thus. View more context for this quotation
1705 C. Cibber Careless Husband ii. i. 20 I gad I fancy thee and I have unlac'd many a Reputation there.
1767 Trial England’s Cicero v. 31 That professors of literature and science..should be so far forgetful of themselves, as to unlace their reputations in this mob-like and tumultuous manner.
1894 C. Whibley in L. Sterne Tristram Shandy Introd. p. v Here, instead of lives taken, reputations are unlaced.
1988 P. Roscoe in New Q. (Canada) Winter 23 It's the unquiet deaths that unlace minds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > sew or ornament textile fabric [verb (transitive)] > trim > with lace > strip of lace
unlace1598
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Disfrangiare, to vnfringe, to vnlase.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.c1330- beat everything
- beat fat
- beat formerly also go about the bush
- beat formerly also seek about the bush
- beat formerly also wend about the bush
- beat generation
- beat goose
- beat hand
- beat handsmooth
- beat in
- beat into
- beat into fits
- beat into one's head
- beat into one's mind
- beat it
- beat it on the hoof
- beat it out
- beat it up
- beat knee
- beat knock the tar out of
- beat off
- beat officer
- beat on
- beat one hollow
- beat one to it