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:
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
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
Mr. Hawermann," he said, "the men must unyoke their horses at once, for the squire wants all the workmen to be up at the manor-house at nine.
From An Old Story of My Farming Days Vol. II (of III). (Ut Mine Stromtid) by Fritz Reuter
"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
"Incredulous wretch!" cried Don Quixote, "unyoke and do as thou wilt; but thou shalt soon see that thy trouble might have been spared."
From Wit and Wisdom of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
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
But Diego had a soul above such a conveyance, and, that very evening, while the oxen were being unyoked, he stole away towards a small group of horses that were browsing on the plain.
From Adventures Among the Red Indians Romantic Incidents and Perils Amongst the Indians of North and South America by H. W. G. Hyrst
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
This was a common adage for giving over or ceasing to do a thing; a metaphor derived from the unyoking of oxen at the end of their labor.
From Folk-lore of Shakespeare by Thomas Firminger Thiselton-Dyer
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
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
Old Pete, the ox driver, became so exhausted that he fell asleep without unyoking the oxen.
From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Texas Narratives, Part 1 by Work Projects Administration
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