v. Obs. [OE. unlúcan, onlúcan (UN-2 3), = WFris. ont-, ûntluke, OS. antlûkan (MDu. ontluken, Du. ontluiken, MLG. entluken), OHG. antlûhhan, in(t)luchan (MHG. entlûchen).]
1. trans. To undo or open (a gate, door, etc.); to unlock.
c. 1000. Rule of Chrodegang, x. Þæt he preosta gatu … alyfedum tidum luce & unluce.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 127. Þet is þet loc þe ðe deofel ne con unlucan.
c. 1275. Pains Hell, 9, in O. E. Misc., 147. Hwo haueþ helle dure vnloke Þat þu ert of pyne ibroke.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 3152. Hii vn-lek þe ȝate at þe frome.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XII. 112. Clerkes kepe þe keyes, To vnlouken it at her lykynge.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 4510. When all þe ȝates of þe castell weron unloke.
absol. 1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 313. Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke, & Lucifer answered, What lorde artow?
transf. 1390. Gower, Conf., I. 293. So that his lippes ben unloke And his corage is al tobroke.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 28. Oure fflescly eyn byn al vnlokyn, Nakyd for synne ouresylf we se.
2. fig. a. To unfold, expound, declare.
13[?]. K. Alis., 69 (Laud MS.). Ac whi ich habbe hem þus vnleke, Ȝee shullen me after her speke.
c. 1315. Shoreham, I. 1504. Nou ich wolle ondo þys eft By þe wey of mystyke;… Nou lestlich schel ich on-louke þys.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 25. That swevene hath Daniel unloke.
b. To evolve or extract.
c. 1320. Cast. Love, 77. [Who] con þat muchel of luitel unlouken,… Alle poyntes he fynde may Of vre be-leeue.
c. To dissolve, destroy.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 255. But ihesus rise to lyue,… And conforte al his kynne,… And al þe iuwen ioye vnioignen & vnlouken.
d. To set free, make open way for.
14[?]. Langland’s P. Pl., C. II. 198. Þat is þe lok of loue þat vnloseþ [MS. F. vnlowketh] grace.
3. intr. To open; to go asunder.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, v. 178. Ine flom iordanes syche He was ycrystned, þe heuene onleake.
c. 1350. Lybeaus Disc., 1816. That deys began to schake,… The rof abone unlek,… As hyt wolde asonder.
