extricate

Main Entry:: ex·tri·cate
Pronunciation:: \ˈek-strə-ˌkāt\
Function:: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s):: ex·tri·cat·ed; ex·tri·cat·ing
Etymology:: Latin extricatus, past participle of extricare, from ex- + tricae trifles, perplexities
Date:: 1601

1 aarchaic : unravel b: to distinguish from a related thing2: to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty

— ex·tri·ca·ble

\ik-ˈstri-kə-bəl, ek-ˈ, ˈek-(ˌ)\ adjective

— ex·tri·ca·tion

\ˌek-strə-ˈkā-shən\ noun

synonyms extricate , disentangle , untangle , disencumber , disembarrass mean to free from what binds or holds back. extricate implies the use of care or ingenuity in freeing from a difficult position or situation <extricated himself from financial difficulties>. disentangle and untangle suggest painstaking separation of a thing from other things <disentangling fact from fiction> <untangle a web of deceit>. disencumber implies a release from something that clogs or weighs down <an article disencumbered of jargon>. disembarrass suggests a release from something that impedes or hinders <disembarrassed herself of her advisers>.

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