Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Disengage
Disˊen-gage′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Disengaged
(#)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disengaging
.] [Pref.
dis-
+ engage
: cf. F. désengager
.] To release from that with which anything is engaged, engrossed, involved, or entangled; to extricate; to detach; to set free; to liberate; to clear;
as, to
disengage
one from a party, from broils and controversies, from an oath, promise, or occupation; to disengage
the affections a favorite pursuit, the mind from study.To
disengage
him and the kingdom, great sums were to be borrowed. Milton.
Syn. – To liberate; free; loose; extricate; clear; disentangle; detach; withdraw; wean.
Disˊen-gage′
,Verb.
I.
To release one’s self; to become detached; to free one's self.
From a friends's grave how soon we
disengage
! Young.
Webster 1828 Edition
Disengage
DISENGAGE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To separate, as a substance from any thing with which it is in union; to free; to loose; to liberate; as, to disengage a metal from extraneous substances.Caloric and light must be disengaged during the process.
2.
To separate from that to which one adheres, or is attached; as, to disengage a man from a party.3.
To disentangle; to extricate; to clear from impediments, difficulties or perplexities; as, to disengage one from broils or controversies.4.
To detach; to withdraw; to wean; as, to disengage the heart or affections from earthly pursuits.5.
To free from any thing that commands the mind, or employs the attention; as, to disengage the mind from study; to disengage ones self from business.6.
To release or liberate from a promise or obligation; to set free by dissolving an engagement; as, the men, who were enlisted, are now disengaged; the lady, who had promised to give her hand in marriage, is disengaged. Let it be observed that disengaged properly implies previous engagement; and is not to be confounded with unengaged, which does not always imply prior engagement. This distinction is sometimes carelessly overlooked.Definition 2024
disengage
disengage
English
Noun
disengage (plural disengages)
Verb
disengage (third-person singular simple present disengages, present participle disengaging, simple past and past participle disengaged)
- (transitive, intransitive) To release or loosen from something that binds, holds, entangles, or interlocks; unfasten; detach; disentangle; free.
- 1749, John Cleland, Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, Part 5
- Disengaging myself then from his embrace, I made him sensible of the reasons there were for his present leaving me; on which, though reluctantly, he put on his cloaths with as little expedition, however, as he could help, wantonly interrupting himself, between whiles, with kisses, touches and embraces I could not refuse myself to.
- 1982, Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe, and Everything
- Ford still had his hand stuck out. Arthur looked at it with incomprehension.
"Shake," prompted Ford.
Arthur did, nervously at first, as if it might turn out to be a fish. Then he grasped it vigorously with both hands in an overwhelming flood of relief. He shook it and shook it.
After a while Ford found it necessary to disengage.
- Ford still had his hand stuck out. Arthur looked at it with incomprehension.
- 1749, John Cleland, Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, Part 5
Translations
release, detach
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