unkennel
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To drive from a hiding place or lair: "unkennel" means to force an animal, especially a fox or other quarry, out of its den or burrow, typically during hunting.
- To uncover or reveal: By extension, it means to bring something hidden or concealed into the open.
Verb (intransitive):
- To leave a hiding place: "unkennel" can also mean for an animal to emerge from its den or lair.
Usage Examples
Transitive:
- The hunters used dogs to unkennel the fox from its den. (The hunters forced the fox out of its hiding place.)
- The investigation sought to unkennel the truth behind the scandal. (The investigation aimed to reveal the hidden truth.)
Intransitive:
- At dusk, the badger began to unkennel and search for food. (The badger emerged from its den at nightfall.)
Advanced Usage
- "to unkennel one's thoughts": a figurative use meaning to express or reveal one's hidden ideas or feelings.
- After hours of silence, she finally unkenneled her true feelings about the matter. (She revealed her concealed emotions.)
Variants and Related Words
Kennel (n): a shelter for a dog or other animal.
- The dog slept in its kennel during the storm. (The dog rested in its enclosed shelter.)
Kennel (v): to keep or confine in a kennel.
- They kenneled the dogs while on vacation. (They placed the dogs in a kennel for care.)
Synonyms
- Dislodge: to force something out of a fixed position.
- Expose: to uncover or reveal something hidden.
- Evict: to expel someone or something from a property or place.
Phrasal Verbs
- Unkennel from: to emerge or be driven from a specific hiding place.
- The rabbit unkenneled from the thicket. (The rabbit came out of the dense bushes.)
Related Idioms
- To unkennel a secret: to reveal a secret that was carefully hidden.
- The journalist worked hard to unkennel the secret of the company's illegal practices. (The journalist exposed the hidden misconduct.)