unˈclasp, v.
[un-2 3 and 7.]
1. trans. To unfasten the clasp(s) of.
| 1530 Palsgr. 766/2, I pray you, unclaspe my boke, for I am nat stronge ynough. 1592 Soliman & Pers. ii. i. 85, I must vnclaspe me, or my heart will breake. 1611 Cotgr., Desagrafer, to vnclaspe, vngraple, vnhaspe. a 1699 J. Beaumont Psyche xvi. xvii, Disrobe me of my Beauty..; Unclasp my Joints; unlace my nerves. 1798 Edgeworth Pract. Educ. (1811) I. 110 A little boy..trying to clasp and unclasp a lady's bracelet. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. v. xxiv, His beaver did he not unclasp. 1859 Tennyson Elaine 975 Then, when she heard his horse upon the stones, Unclasping flung the casement back. 1891 Farrar Darkn. & Dawn xiv, He unclasped the armlet from his wrist. |
b. In fig. context.
| 1592 Daniel Delia i, Heere I vnclaspe the booke of my charg'd soule. 1607 Dekker Hist. Sir T. Wyatt Wks. 1873 III. 100 When ere the blacke booke of my crime's vnclaspt. 1633 Drummond of Hawthornden Entertainm. Chas. I, ii. 31 Heavens volume to unclaspe, wast pages spread, Mysterious golden cyphers cleere to reade. 1833–4 Encycl. Metrop. (1845) 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 of the subject. |
† c. fig. To open up, display. Obs.
| 1599 Shakes. Much Ado i. i. 325, I will..tell faire Hero I am Claudio, And in her bosome Ile unclaspe my heart. 1611 ― Wint. T. iii. ii. 168 He..to my Kingly Guest Vnclasp'd my practise. 1637 N. Whiting Albino & Bellama 5 All had their speakers which unclasp'd their graces. |
2. To loosen the grasp or hold of; to open or force open (the clasped hand).
| 1627 May Lucan iv. G v, His fresh limmes vnclaspe the others hands. 1681 J. Flavel Right Man's Ref. 251 Neither of them..can unclasp the arms of divine love. 1810 Scott Lady of L. ii. xxxiv, Sullen and slowly they unclasp, As struck with shame, their desperate grasp. 1831 James Phil. Augustus iv, Unclasping his arms from the slight, beautiful form round which they were thrown. 1898 ‘Merriman’ Roden's Corner i, Von Holzen..softly unclasped the dead man's hand, taking from it the crumpled notes. |
b. intr. To relax a grip or grasp.
| 1608 Shakes. Per. ii. iii. 107 Vnclaspe, vnclaspe. Thankes Gentlemen to all. 1751 Smollett Per. Pic. xxix, The cudgel flew from his unclasping hand. 1850 Lynch Theoph. Trinal vi. 110 The jaws of their grave shall unclasp. 1851 Longfellow Gold. Leg. ii. Village Church, I feel my feeble hands unclasp, And sink discouraged into night! |
3. trans. To release from a clasp or grip.
| 1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay ix, He remained silent for a minute, his hands clasping and unclasping the arms of his chair. |
Hence unˈclasping vbl. n.
| 1592 Soliman & Pers. ii. i. 87 But inward cares are most pent in with greefe; Vnclasping, therefore, yeeldes me no releefe. 1599 B. Jonson Ev. Man out of Hum. ii. ii, A whole volume of humour, and worthy the vnclasping. |