Unjoin

v. Now rare. [UN-² 3.]

  1.  trans. To detach from being joined; to disjoin, sever, separate.

1340.  Ayenb., 107. He him uestneþ zuo ine god þet no þing ne may him to parti ne onioyni.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., V. pr. iii. (1868), 159. It byhoueþ … þat þe lynage of mankynde … ben departed and vnioyned from hys welle and faylen of hys bygynnynge.

1400.  Destr. Troy, 939. Jason … gyrd of his hede, Vnioynis the Jamnys þat iuste were to-gedur.

1538.  Elyot, Disiungo, to vnioyne, to separate.

1583.  Golding, Calvin on Deut. xxi. 127. Euen by vnioyning the thinges that God had ioyned.

1603.  J. Davies (Heref.), Microcosmos, 107. It glues together states, that Warres vnioin’d.

1878.  T. Hardy, Ret. Native, I. iii. When folks are just married ’tis as well to look glad o’t, since looking sorry won’t unjoin ’em.

  b.  intr. To become unjointed or detached.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1536), T iv. My sinewes dry…: the ioyntes vnioyne asonder, and mi spirites are troubled.

  2.  trans. To separate the parts of; to take apart. Also fig., to undo.

1340–70.  Alisaunder, 294. Stones stirred they þo & stightlich layde On hur engines full gist to ungome [read unjoine] þe walles.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 255. But ihesus rise to lyue,… conforte al his kynne…, And al þe iuwen ioye vnioignen & vnlouken.

c. 1430.  Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. cxlviii. (1869), 135. In Iacob and Esau thou hast seyn the figure: I sawede hem and vnioyned hem.

  † 3.  intr. To rejoin, make answer. Obs.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 824. Than Jason vnioynid to the gentill speche:—Lord, and it like you, longe am I here!

  Hence Unjoining vbl. sb.

1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xi. (Arb.), 173. This alteration is sometimes by … ioyning or vnioyning of sillables.

1598.  Florio, Diuulsione, a diuulsion, vnioyning, cutting.