untie

Verb

WordNet 3.0

undo the ties of“They untied the prisoner”Synonyms: unbrace unlace
cause to become loose“undo the shoelace”“untie the knot”“loosen the necktie”Synonyms: undo loosen

Untie \Un*tie"\, v. t. [AS. unt[=y]gan. See 1st Un-, and Tie, v. t.] [1913 Webster]

1.To loosen, as something interlaced or knotted; to disengage the parts of; as, to untie a knot. [1913 Webster]

Sacharissa's captive fain Would untie his iron chain.— Waller.[1913 Webster]

Her snakes untied, sulphurous waters drink.— Pope.[1913 Webster]

2.To free from fastening or from restraint; to let loose; to unbind. [1913 Webster]

Though you untie the winds, and let them fight Against the churches.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

All the evils of an untied tongue we put upon the accounts of drunkenness.— Jer. Taylor.[1913 Webster]

3.To resolve; to unfold; to clear. [1913 Webster]

They quicken sloth, perplexities untie.— Denham.[1913 Webster]

Untie \Un*tie"\, v. i. To become untied or loosed. [1913 Webster]