unloose

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

unloose

/(ˌ)ʌnˈluːs/ UK
/ˌʌnˈlus/ US
/ˌən-/ US

Rhymes with -uːs

Where it comes from

From Middle English unlosen (“to loosen, untie; to uncover, unwrap; to extend; to free, liberate, release; to disengage; to detach oneself; to make (someone) weak; to abolish; to destroy”) [and other forms], from un- (intensifying prefix) + losen (“to free, let loose, release; to loosen, untie; to come undone or unfastened; to open; to relax; to remove; to melt; to resolve; to break up, disintegrate; to detach, disengage; to destroy; to say, tell; to absolve of sin”) (from los (“free; loose, untied; exempt; absolved of sin; inattentive, undisciplined; of the tongue: lacking restraint, unbridled; limp, weak; wavering”), from Old Norse lauss (“loose”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewH- (“to separate; to set free; to untie”)). The English word is analysable as un- (intensifying prefix) + loose. Compare Middle English unlesen (“to loosen, release”), from Old English onlīesan (“to release, deliver, liberate, unloose”).

verb unlooses · unloosing · unloosed · unloose

also, figuratively, transitive To loosen or undo (something that entangles, fastens, holds, or interlocks). Turne him to any Cauſe of Pollicy, / The Gordian Knot of it he will vnlooſe, / Familiar as his Garter: […]
Similar: disengage, loose, unfasten, untie
also, figuratively, transitive To relax or slacken (something that clasps or grips, such as the arms or hands).
Similar: let go, unclasp
transitive To free (someone or something) from a constraint; (figuratively) to release (something which has been suppressed, such as emotions or objectionable things). Then Yorke vnlooſe thy long impriſoned thoughts, / And let thy tongue be equall with thy heart.
Similar: liberate, set free, unleash, vent
archaic, transitive To remove or take off (especially something undesirable).
Similar: detach
intransitive To become loose or come off.
Similar: detach
also, figuratively, intransitive To free from a constraint.

Similar: unloosen

Thesaurus

verb

Similar: unloosen

Talk about this word

Cite this

MLA

"unloose." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/unloose. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

unloose. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/unloose

Chicago

"unloose." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/unloose.

BibTeX

@misc{unloose_2026,
  title = {unloose},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/unloose},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}