1. trans. To unfasten the clasp(s) of.
1530. Palsgr., 766/2. I pray you, unclaspe my boke, for I am nat stronge ynough.
1592. Soliman & Pers., II. i. 85. I must vnclaspe me, or my heart will breake.
1611. Cotgr., Desagrafer, to vnclaspe, vngraple, vnhaspe.
a. 1699. J. Beaumont, Psyche, XVI. xvii. Disrobe me of my Beauty…; Unclasp my Joints; unlace my nerves.
1798. Edgeworth, Pract. Educ. (1811), I. 110. A little boy … trying to clasp and unclasp a lady’s bracelet.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, V. xxiv. His beaver did he not unclasp.
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 975. Then, when she heard his horse upon the stones, Unclasping flung the casement back.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, xiv. He unclasped the armlet from his wrist.
b. In fig. context.
1592. Daniel, Delia, i. Heere I vnclaspe the booke of my charg’d soule.
1607. Dekker, Hist. Sir T. Wyatt, Wks. 1873, III. 100. When ere the blacke booke of my crime’s vnclaspt.
1633. Drumm. of Hawth., Entertainm. Chas. I., ii. 31. Heavens volume to unclaspe, wast pages spread, Mysterious golden cyphers cleere to reade.
1833–4. Encycl. Metrop. (1845), VI. 688/2. It will be prudent before thus entangling ourselves in fetters which it may be difficult to unclasp, to wait for a full investigation of the subject.
† c. fig. To open up, display. Obs.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 325. I will … tell faire Hero I am Claudio, And in her bosome Ile unclaspe my heart. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., III. ii. 168. He … to my Kingly Guest Vnclasp’d my practise.
1637. N. Whiting, Albino & Bellama, 5. All had their speakers which unclasp’d their graces.
2. To loosen the grasp or hold of; to open or force open (the clasped hand).
1627. May, Lucan, IV. G v. His fresh limmes vnclaspe the others hands.
1681. Flavel, Right Man’s Ref., 251. Neither of them … can unclasp the arms of divine love.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., II. xxxiv. Sullen and slowly they unclasp, As struck with shame, their desperate grasp.
1831. G. P. R. James, Phil. Augustus, iv. Unclasping his arms from the slight, beautiful form round which they were thrown.
1898. ‘Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, i. Von Holzen … softly unclasped the dead man’s hand, taking from it the crumpled notes.
b. intr. To relax a grip or grasp.
1608. Shaks., Per., II. iii. 107. Vnclaspe, vnclaspe. Thankes Gentlemen to all.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic., xxix. The cudgel flew from his unclasping hand.
1850. Lynch, Theoph. Trinal, vi. 110. The jaws of their grave shall unclasp.
1851. Longf., Gold. Leg., ii. Village Church. I feel my feeble hands unclasp, And sink discouraged into night!
3. trans. To release from a clasp or grip.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, ix. He remained silent for a minute, his hands clasping and unclasping the arms of his chair.
Hence Unclasping vbl. sb.
1592. Soliman & Pers., II. i. 87. But inward cares are most pent in with greefe; Vnclasping, therefore, yeeldes me no releefe.
1599. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., II. ii. A whole volume of humour, and worthy the vnclasping.
