loosen

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Old Norse laussbor. Middle English loos English loose English -en English loosen From loose + -en.

1. To make loose.

   “to loosen a knot; to loosen one's grip / hold on something”

   “After the Thanksgiving meal, Bill loosened his belt.”

2. To become loose.

   “I noticed that my seatbelt had gradually loosened during the journey.”

   “The subtile shower the earth hath softned so, And with the waues, the trees tost to and fro; That the rootes loosen, and the tops downe sway, So that whole Forrests quickly swimme away.”

3. To disengage (a device that restrains).

   “At Liberty th’ unfetter’d Captive stands, And flings the loosen’d Shackles from his Hands.”

   “He easily comprehended, that the noise which he had heard was occasioned by his having loosened a chain which attached the image to its pedestal.”

4. To become unfastened or undone.

   “Immediately my Shackles loosened and fell away of themselves […]”

5. To free from restraint; to set at liberty.

   “This is an admirable Rule; a Painter ought to have it perpetually present in his Mind and Memory. […] it loosens his hands, and assists his understanding.”

   “[…] Valancourt, willing to take a more extensive view of the enchanting country, into which they were about to descend, than he could do from a carriage, loosened his dogs, and once more bounded with them along the banks of the road.”

6. To relieve (the bowels) from constipation; to promote defecation.

   “1626, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or A Naturall Historie, London: William Lee, Century 1, p. 14, […] Feare looseneth the Belly; because the Heat retiring inwards towards the Heart, the Gutts and other Parts are relaxed;”

   “[…] omitting the vehicle of water and honey, which is of a laxative power it selfe, the powder of some Loadstones in this dose doth rather constipate and binde, then purge and loosen the belly.”

7. To create a breach or rift between (two parties).

   “I had rather lose the battle than that sister Should loosen him and me.”

8. To sail away (from the shore).

   “[…] after the .iiii. day of oure arryuall in Britayne, the eightene shyps that we spake of before, which hadde the horsemen to conuey ouer, loosened from the further hauen with a soft wynd.”