Loosen
/ˈluː.sən/noun
To make or become less tight or firm.
Did you know?The word 'loosen' derives from a root that once implied the act of releasing bonds, echoing ancient rituals of liberation and transformation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leu̯s-
“to loosen, to release”
Old English
OE
lūsan
“to free or set loose”
Middle English
ME
lusen
“to let go or unbind”
Modern English
English
loosen
“to make less tight or firm, often used in both physical and metaphorical contexts.”