unleashv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈliːʃ/, U.S. /ˌənˈliʃ/ 1. transitive. Originally Hunting. To free (a dog or other animal) from a leash, esp. in order for it to pursue or attack another animal or a person. Also in figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > hunt with hounds [verb (transitive)] > release hounds
uncouplec1330
to let slip1530
to cast off1602
decouple1602
unslip1611
slipa1616
unleash1671
to throw off1686
1671 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) To unleach [1700 unleash],..to let go the dogs after the Game.
1761 T. Arnold Bailey's Compl. Eng. Dict. (German ed.) II. 6/2 Abkuppeln, (Hunde) to uncouple, unleash the Hounds.
?1792 T. Stratford Ld. Russel iv. ii. 67 Black-mouth'd perjury..already doth unleash his fleeter Greyhounds.
1796 J. White Orig. Lett. Sir John Falstaff 15 His hounds unleashed by swain-motes, are loosed to every demesne.
1846 Chambers' Edinb. Jrnl. 20 June 395/1 At that signal the mastiffs were to be unleashed.
1854 J. S. C. Abbott Napoleon (1855) I. xxvi. 418 The bloodhounds of war were unleashed and England had unleashed them.
1877 Boy's Herald 21 July 36/1 Roland looked above and around in search of some quarry at which he could unleash the hawk.
1917 Times 29 Mar. 5/ One of them was seen to unleash his dog against an old woman.
1958 J. Kerouac Dharma Bums xviii. 133 I unleashed him and he yipped and leaped around.
2008 N.Z. Herald (Nexis) 15 Mar. He used to get out of his ministerial car..and clamber across ditches to unleash goats on country roads.
2013 Cornish Guardian (Nexis) 24 Apr. 6 A man who was being aggressive and abusive towards him unleashed his Staffordshire bull terrier-type dog.
2. transitive. To let loose (a powerful or violent force); to allow free rein to (an emotion, etc.); to restrain no longer, to release.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > liberation > set free [verb (transitive)] > free from restraint
ungyve1531
unlock1531
unbuckle1548
unpen1561
unmanacle1582
unmuzzlec1585
unseal1589
dischain1603
unshackle1611
to let out1613
uncage1620
unfreeze1637
loosen1645
unconfine1651
unsequester1664
unbay1687
uncurb1729
unbind1735
unleash1822
disenchain1853
1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 19 Like beasts When earthquake is unleashed.
1868 ‘G. Eliot’ Spanish Gypsy i. 48 With power to check all rage until it turned To ordered force, unleashed on chosen prey.
1882 Cent. Mag. May 107/1 He often cannot refrain from unleashing conceits that fly without ‘stamping’ their imagery.
1921 E. W. Mumford in B. Williams O. Henry Prize Stories of 1921 (1922) 243 Her words unleashed his fancy.
1973 C. Sagan Cosmic Connection (1975) i. 6 We destroy ourselves with the technological forces our intelligence has unleashed.
2015 Courier (Dundee) 10 July (Perth & Perthshire ed.) 26/5 Referendums unleash emotions that undermine their leaders.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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