unyoke
Americanverb (used with object)
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to free from or as if from a yoke.
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to part or disjoin, as by removing a yoke.
verb (used without object)
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to remove a yoke.
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to cease work.
verb
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to release (an animal, etc) from a yoke
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(tr) to set free; liberate
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(tr) to disconnect or separate
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archaic (intr) to cease working
Etymology
Origin of unyoke
before 1000; Middle English unyoken, Old English ungeocian. See un- 2, yoke 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Uncle was so surprised to see such a lot at one drag, that he told the men to unyoke the oxen, and that they could dress and fry fish the rest of the day.
From A Trip to California in 1853 Recollections of a Gold Seeking Trip by Ox Train across the Plains and Mountains by an Old Illinois Pioneer by Washington Bailey
If we do not unyoke it, the ox will die of hunger.
From The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 06 (From Barbarossa to Dante) by Charles F. (Charles Francis) Horne
“They have smelt the water, it is not far off, sir,” said Bremen; “we had better unyoke them all, and let them go.”
From The Mission; or Scenes in Africa by Frederick Marryat
You are a God-fearing man, I know, so make haste and unyoke them.'
From Tales of the Punjab by Flora Annie Steel
In crossing large streams, we unyoke the oxen and swim them over.
From Forest Life and Forest Trees: comprising winter camp-life among the loggers, and wild-wood adventure. with Descriptions of lumbering operations on the various rivers of Maine and New Brunswick by John S. Springer
In the chaotic tangle of dust, horseflesh and steel, finding an unexpected advantage was not difficult for those unyoked from scruple.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2024
More specifically, a female third party, unyoked from ego.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2022
Although the Egyptians showed no particular desire to be unyoked, the Egyptian Cabinet neither declared war against Italy nor prepared its armed forces for action.
From Time Magazine Archive
Then he unyoked the bullocks and led them to the small pool of water near which we had stopped, giving them each a handful of hay.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
The green stream swept through the mill-race, the foaming water boiled round the black building, and in the yard, unyoked and ruminating, the oxen slept beside the waggon.
From Roumanian Stories Translated from the Original Roumanian by Various
The Professor, himself, drove the team to the Cataract, and after unyoking them, followed the course of the river down to its mouth, to await the coming of the boys.
From The Wonder Island Boys: Exploring the Island by Roger Thompson Finlay
Harriet was ten, I was not quite nine, and Lars was only twelve, hence we spent long hours in yoking and unyoking our unruly span.
From A Son of the Middle Border by Hamlin Garland
After unhitching them from the wagon and unyoking the animals, so they could feed in the meantime, the oil lamps were taken out and carefully examined.
From The Wonder Island Boys: Exploring the Island by Roger Thompson Finlay
Then, too, there was the outspanning—the unyoking the often vicious animals from the dissel-boom or wagon pole and trek chain, when he halted by water, and let them drink and feed.
From Diamond Dyke The Lone Farm on the Veldt - Story of South African Adventure by W. Boucher
We lost no time in unyoking the oxen and placing the waggons in a square, taking even more than usual precautions against an attack.
From With Axe and Rifle by H. Meyer
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