unyoke
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to free from or as if from a yoke.
-
to part or disjoin, as by removing a yoke.
verb (used without object)
-
to remove a yoke.
-
to cease work.
verb
-
to release (an animal, etc) from a yoke
-
(tr) to set free; liberate
-
(tr) to disconnect or separate
-
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:
Then he proceeded to unyoke the four beasts from the other man's wagon and yoked them to his own.
From The Killer by Stewart Edward White
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
But lo! a boundless space we have travelled o'er; 'Tis time our steaming horses to unyoke.
From The Georgics by Virgil
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
Unteam, un-tēm′, v.t. to unyoke a team from.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
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 carriages drew up, partly in the court-yard, partly in a long, arched gateway; and the postilions, people hired from the village, unyoked their horses, and rode off.
From Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship and Travels, Vol. I (of 2) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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
And unyoking the oxen and spreading the canopy over their heads, they lay down in despondency, each one under his wagon.
From The Gospel of Buddha Compiled from Ancient Records by Paul Carus by Paul Carus
We came thus upon some rainwater in the clay of the plains which, being sufficient to satisfy the bullocks, we gladly availed ourselves of the opportunity it afforded of watering them without unyoking.
From Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Volume 2 by Thomas Mitchell
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
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
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
