unbar

English

Etymology

From Middle English unbarren, equivalent to un- +‎ bar.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Verb

unbar (third-person singular simple present unbars, present participle unbarring, simple past and past participle unbarred)

1. (transitive) To unlock or unbolt a door that had been locked or bolted with a bar.
   • 1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros‎^[1], London: Jonathan Cape, pages 1–2:

     “No need to unbar gates to thee and me,” said the martlet, as they passed beneath the darkness of that ancient portal, carved with strange devices, and clean through the massy timbers of the bolted gate thickly riveted with silver, into the inner court.

   • 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:

     Only Enid could dare him at such a time, and even she felt occasionally that sinking of the heart which the bravest of tamers may experience as he unbars the gate of the cage.

2. (transitive) To remove an impediment that obstructs the passage of (someone or something).
3. (transitive) To remove a prohibition.

Anagrams

• Braun, Buran, Rabun, Urban, aburn, buran, unabr., urban