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:
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
Let us unyoke it from tradition, which claims to be superior, or even equal.
From The Lost Ten Tribes, and 1882 by Joseph Wild
And when the travail is done, then they unyoke them and bring them to the stall: and tie them to the stall, and feed them thereat.
From Mediaeval Lore from Bartholomew Anglicus by Robert Steele
"Yes, but if you unyoke here you will never catch them again," he said.
From Ox-Team Days on the Oregon Trail by F. N. (Frederick N.) Wilson
In this capacity they assist every morning in yoking the celestial horses to the glorious chariot of the sun, which they again help to unyoke when he sinks to rest.
From Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by E.M. Berens
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
Last of all he unyoked and fed the oxen, leaving them solemnly munching their fodder, blinking their meek eyes and ruminating upon the eternal sameness of things in their serene bovine world.
From The Firebrand by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett
While the men were unyoking the teams I was informed that Mr. Cunningham was missing.
From Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Volume 1 by Thomas Mitchell
We drew up a short distance from the bank, and after unyoking, I made my customary visit to water, with towel and bucket, which latter was filled for the cook.
From Reminiscences of Queensland 1862-1869 by W. H. (William Henry) Corfield
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
It was now too late to turn back; so, unyoking the oxen,64 they proceeded to lower the wagons down into the valley by hand, using chains and ropes.
From Wealth of the World's Waste Places and Oceania by Jewett Castello Gilson
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
