DISENGAGE

disengage

(verb) become free; “in neutral, the gears disengage”

free, disengage

(verb) free or remove obstruction from; “free a path across the cluttered floor”

disengage, withdraw

(verb) release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles; “I want to disengage myself from his influence”; “disengage the gears”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

disengage (plural disengages)

(fencing) A circular movement of the blade that avoids the opponent's parry

Verb

disengage (third-person singular simple present disengages, present participle disengaging, simple past and past participle disengaged)

(ambitransitive) To release or loosen from something that binds, entangles, holds, or interlocks.

Synonyms: detach, disentangle, free, unfasten

Source: Wiktionary

Dis`en*gage" (, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disengaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Disengaging.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + engage: cf. F. désengager.]

Definition: To release from that with which anything is engaged, engrossed, involved, or entangled; to extricate; to detach; to set free; to liberate; to clear; as, to disengage one from a party, from broils and controversies, from an oath, promise, or occupation; to disengage the affections a favorite pursuit, the mind from study. To disengage him and the kingdom, great sums were to be borrowed. Milton. Caloric and light must be disengaged during the process. Transl. of Lavoisier.

Syn.

– To liberate; free; loose; extricate; clear; disentangle; detach; withdraw; wean.

Dis`en*gage", v. i.

Definition: To release one's self; to become detached; to free one's self. From a friends's grave how soon we disengage! Young.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition