Middle English Dictionary Entry
unlọ̄sen v.
Entry Info
Forms | unlọ̄sen v. Also unlos(e, unlous(e, onlosin. |
Etymology | From un- pref.(2) & lọ̄sen v.(3). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To free (sb. from the bonds of sin, the soul from sin); liberate (sb. from the body), move (sb.) to rapture; also, release (grace), set loose;
(b) to disengage (one’s riches from oneself); also, refl. detach oneself (from affection).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)2.198 : Þat is þe lok of loue þat vnloseþ [A: letiþ out] grace.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)181/18 : Seynt Poul…coueitide to ben vnbounde and vnlosid from þe body.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)301/28 : Þere was also anoþir wrecche…to whom creaturis þat ben bounde in deedly synne comen to for to be assoilid and vnloosid of þo synnes.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)370/22 : He beynge bounde & nailid to þe cros, delyuerede & vnloside ȝou fro þe boond of deedly synne.
- c1460 Tree & Fruits HG (McC 132)46/12 : I desire…to be vnlosid oute of my wrecchid body and be with my loue crist ihesu.
- a1500 Theoph.(RwlPoet 225)p.19 : Þu, lady, vnlose me of þo bondes Þat I wrot with myn owyn hondes, And þat my soule nouȝt spylle.
b
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)362/18 : If he vnlose himsilf fro affeccioun…he is bounde of nede þat boþe in wille & in deede he schulde vse charite.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.56 : Vnlose [BodTh d.36 1/77: Vnlowse] so þin rychesse from þe þat in Godys cause þu be redy to forsakyn al þat þu hast.
2.
(a) To open something [1st quot.]; also, untie or loosen (a shoe, knot); ~ lippes, speak; ben unlosed, come loose, come undone;
(b) to remove (bonds); unbind (a wound); unwrap (a shrouded corpse), uncover;
(c) to stretch forth (a finger), extend;
(d) ppl. unlosing, med. increasing the volume of urine, promoting urination.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)5.25 : How fele to day…holden þe selid boke & mowen not opnen bot ȝif he vnlous [WB(2): vnlouke; L reseraverit] þat haþe þe key of dauid, þe whych opniþ & no man closiþ, closiþ & no man opniþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.22.19 : As ioynyng of trees bounden togidere to þe foundement of þe bilding shal not ben vnloosed [WB(2): vnboundun], so & þe herte fastned togidere in þe thenking of counseil.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)prol.87 : Seriauntis it semide þat seruide at þe barre Pleten for penis…And nouȝt for loue of oure lord vnlose [vrr. vnlouse, vnloseþ; vnclose, opnyd] here lippes ones; Tho miȝtest betere mete myst on maluerne hilles Þanne gete a mom of here mouþ til mony be shewid.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)365 : Onfestyn, idem quod on-losyn.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.43 : Wycchecrafte ys exercisede moche, for women þer be wonte to selle wynde to the schippemen…as includede vnder thre knottes of threde, so that thei wylle vnloose [Trev.: vnknette; L evolvant] the knottes lyke as thei wylle haue the wynde to blawe.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)262 : He that comithe aftir me was I-made afor me, of whom I am not worthi to vnloos his shone.
b
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)125a/b : Þanne vnlouse þe wounde & take a weke of flex þat schal be baþid in hoot wyne & wronge out, & þat schal be leid to þe wounde.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)12/4 : The apostel commaundid that the bere schuld be sette downe and to vnlowse hire body, aftur whiche dede he spake thus with a clere voice to hure.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)35/36 : There come to hym the aungel of God with a grete light for comfortynge of hym and vnlowsid his bondes, and opyned the dore and lette hym go fre.
c
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.139 : For god is after an hande…Þe fader was fyrst, as a fyst with o fynger foldynge Tyl hym loued and lest to vnlosen [vr. vnclosen] his fynger.
d
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)116/1447 : Diuretyk is undoand & unlowsand; stiptyk is constrictyf & consolidatyf, id est byndand.
3.
(a) To make (sb.) weak, overcome; ben unlosed, of courage: become faint; of hands: become weak, fail; ppl. unlosed as adj.: weak, feeble, limp;
(b) to abolish (the Old Law), destroy.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Josh.5.1 : After þenne þat alle þe kyngys of ammorreis…herdyn þat þe lord hadde dryȝed þe flodys of Iordan by fore þe sonys of Irael to þe tyme þat þei were goon ouer, þe herte of hem ys vnlosed [alt. to: vnboundyn; WB(2): failid].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judith 16.9 : Judit widuwe, þe doȝter of merary, in þe fairnesse of hir face vnloosede [WB(2): ouercam] hym.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.25.32 : A womman if she haue…feble hondis & vnloosid knees…makiþ not blisful hir man.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.13.7 : Neeȝ is þe dai of þe lord…for þat alle hondis shul ben vnlosid [WB(2): vnmyȝti; L dissolventur] & eche herte of a man shal wanen or feylen & ben tobrosid.
b
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)131/22 : I cam not for to breke and vnlose þe oold lawe, but for to fulfille it.