† unˈlouk, v. Obs.
[OE. unl{uacu}can, onl{uacu}can (un-2 3), = WFris. ont-, ûntluke, OS. antlûkan (MDu. ontluken, Du. ontluiken, MLG. entluken), OHG. antlûhhan, in(t)luchan (MHG. entlûchen).]
1. trans. To undo or open (a gate, door, etc.); to unlock.
| c 1000 Rule of Chrodegang x, Þæt he preosta gatu..alyfedum tidum luce & unluce. c 1175 Lamb. Hom. 127 Þet is þet loc þe ðe deofel ne con unlucan. c 1275 Pains Hell 9 in O.E. Misc. 147 Hwo haueþ helle dure vnloke Þat þu ert of pyne ibroke. 13.. Sir Beues (A.) 3152 Hii vn-lek þe ȝate at þe frome. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 112 Clerkes kepe þe keyes, To vnlouken it at her lykynge. c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 4510 When all þe ȝates of þe castell weron unloke. |
| absol. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 313 Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke, & Lucifer answered, What lorde artow? |
| transf. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 293 So that his lippes ben unloke And his corage is al tobroke. c 1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 28 Oure fflescly eyn byn al vnlokyn, Nakyd for synne ouresylf we se. |
2. fig. a. To unfold, expound, declare.
| 13.. K. Alis. 69 (Laud MS.), Ac whi ich habbe hem þus vnleke, Ȝee shullen me after her speke. c 1315 Shoreham i. 1504 Nou ich wolle ondo þys eft By þe wey of mystyke;..Nou lestlich schel ich on-louke þys. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 25 That swevene hath Daniel unloke. |
b. To evolve or extract.
| c 1320 Cast. Love 77 [Who] con þat muchel of luitel un⁓louken,..Alle poyntes he fynde may Of vre be-leeue. |
c. To dissolve, destroy.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xviii. 255 But ihesus rise to lyue,..And conforte al his kynne,..And al þe iuwen ioye vnioignen & vnlouken. |
d. To set free, make open way for.
| 14.. Langland's P. Pl. C. ii. 198 Þat is þe lok of loue þat vnloseþ [MS. F. vnlowketh] grace. |
3. intr. To open; to go asunder.
| c 1315 Shoreham Poems v. 178 Ine flom iordanes syche He was ycrystned, þe heuene onleake. c 1350 Lybeaus Disc. 1816 That deys began to schake,..The rof abone unlek,..As hyt wolde asonder. |