unbutton (v.)

early 14c., from un- (2) "opposite of" + button (v.). Related: Unbuttoned; unbuttoning.

Entries linking to unbutton

prefix of reversal, deprivation, or removal (as in unhand, undo, unbutton), Old English on-, un-, from Proto-Germanic *andi- (source also of Old Saxon ant-, Old Norse and-, Dutch ont-, Old High German ant-, German ent-, Gothic and- "against"), from PIE *anti "facing opposite, near, in front of, before, against" (from PIE root *ant- "front, forehead," with derivatives meaning "in front of, before").

More or less confused with un- (1) through similarity in the notions of "negation" and "reversal;" an adjective such as unlocked might represent "not locked" (un- (1)) or the past tense of unlock (un- (2)).

button (v.)

late 14c., "to furnish with buttons;" early 15c., "to fasten with buttons" (of a garment,) from button (n.) or from Old French botoner (Modern French boutonner), from boton (n.) "button," which is from the same Germanic source as the English word. Related: Buttoned; buttoning. Button-down (adj.) in reference to shirt collars is from 1916.

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updated on August 08, 2012

Definitions of unbutton from WordNet

unbutton (v.)

undo the buttons of;

unbutton the shirt

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near unbutton

un-British

unbroken

unbuckle

unburden

unburied

unbutton

uncalled

uncancelled

uncanny

uncap

uncaring