1. trans. To undo from a fixed state or position; to unfasten, loosen.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. i. 208. Plucking to vnfixe an Enemie, Hee doth vnfasten so, and shake a friend. Ibid. (1605), Macb., I. iii. 135. That suggestion, Whose horrid Image doth vnfixe my Heire.
1775. Ash, Unfix,… to loosen, to make less fast.
1804. J. Grahame, Sabbath, 554. Storms that loudly threaten to unfix Islands.
1854. H. Miller, Sch. & Schm. (1858), 438. Unfixing the haulser from the stem, and bringing it aft to the stern, we commenced hauling.
b. spec. in military use.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., To unfix, in a military sense, to take off, as Unfix Bayonet, on which the soldier disengages the bayonet from his piece, and returns it to the scabbard.
1813. Examiner, 10 May, 303/2. Two men lost their bayonets, whilst in the act of unfixing them.
1859. F. A. Griffiths, Artill. Man. (1862), 13. Unfix Swords (or bayonets).
2. fig. To unsettle; to render uncertain or doubtful.
1650. R. Stapylton, Strada’s Low C. Wars, I. 6. Neither gold,… nor the noise of War,… could any way unfix his mind.
1663. J. Spencer, Prodigies (1665), 211. Now one Negative instance will appear … of far more force to unfix a pretending Rule, then two Affirmative to establish it.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xxvi. Wks. (1834), 548/2. By unfixing those motives which promote exertion, or by relaxing those habits which engender patient industry.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., viii. II. 322. The shock which had overturned his early prejudices had at the same time unfixed all his opinions.
3. intr. To become unfixed; to lose fixity.
1844. Hood, Forge, II. 417. But the ruthless talons refuse to unfix.
1863. Reade, Hard Cash, II. 57. As the blood escaped, his eye unfixed, and the pupils contracted and dilated.
