unravel

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To gradually understand or solve something complicated, such as a mystery or problem.

   Detectives slowly began to unravel the truth behind the crime.

2. 2
   verb

   To separate the threads of something woven or knitted, or to come apart in this way.

   The old sweater started to unravel at the cuffs.

3. 3
   verb

   To fall apart or fail after seeming to work or hold together.

   Their carefully made plans began to unravel at the last minute.

Simplified etymology

Unravel was formed in the early 17th century from un- and the older verb ravel, which itself already meant both “to entangle” and “to disentangle.” Because ravel had these opposing senses, unravel often came to mean the same thing as ravel rather than serving consistently as its opposite.

PIE word *h₂énti From un- (suffix denoting the inverse of the specified action) + ravel. cognates * Dutch ontrafelen (“to unravel”)

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary