ˈekstrəˌkāt, usu -ād.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin extricatus, past participle of extricare, from ex- ex- (I) + tricae trifles, impediments, perplexities; perhaps akin to Latin torquēre to twist — more at torture
1.
a. archaic : to separate the tangled threads of : unravel , disentangle
b. : to distinguish (one thing) from a related thing by recognition of common and variant elements : discriminate , differentiate
a plant that cannot easily be extricated from similar ones
extricating the typical culture of a people from its behavior patterns
c. archaic : to clear up the involved condition of : clear of complication or confusion
2.
a. : to draw out from or forth from and set free of a tangled, jumbled, confused, or otherwise involved heap, mass, or situation : separate and set aside
extricating the one unbroken dish from the pile of fragments
b.
(1) : to draw out from or as if from a fixed position : remove with effort
he extricated the two heavy gas cylinders from the bottom of the boat — C.S.Forester
: pull out : get out
many who were trapped perished before they could be extricated — O.S.Nock
: extract
the horse could not extricate its foot from the mudhole
the kind of dust that, once it infiltrates one's lungs, seems never to be altogether extricated — E.J.Kahn
(2) : to release from or as if from a confining, restraining, difficult, embarrassing, dangerous, or otherwise undesirable condition or situation : get free : disengage , liberate
extricating himself from the straitjacket
golf players extricating themselves from a sand trap
what he expected of me was to extricate him from a difficult situation — Joseph Conrad
my success in having extricated myself from an awkward predicament — Vicor Heiser
trying to extricate themselves from debt
3. archaic : to set (as a gas) free from a state of combination
Synonyms:
extricate , disentangle , untangle , disencumber , and disembarrass can mean in common to free or release from what binds or holds one back. extricate implies an entanglement, as in difficulties or perplexities, a restraining from free action so great that only force, ingenuity, or persistence will bring release
on the point of extricating itself from the snarls of conflicting claims — American Guide Series: New Jersey
give us what aid you can in extricating a generous young man from such a pair of schemers as this father and daughter seem to be — W.M.Thackeray
personality is to be extricated from the loyalties which disintegrate it — Donald Meyer
disentangle is similar to extricate but often stresses more the things, especially intricately complex, which entangle other things
disentangle one's foot from a fish net
so picturesque a figure that biography is unable to disentangle him from legend — American Guide Series: North Carolina
a moralization which must be slowly disentangled from the driftings and confusions of everyday life — V.S.Pritchett
he can disentangle facts from impressions — J.G.Cozzens
untangle is often popularly used in the sense of disentangle , with the same implications
untangle one's foot from a fish net
disencumber implies a freeing from what weighs down, clogs, or imposes a heavy burden
they disencumber themselves of many garments — George Meredith
he cannot disencumber himself of his lifelong methods of composition — H.O.Taylor
disencumber oneself of a weight of debts
disembarrass implies a release from what impedes, hampers, or hinders
I was glad to disembarrass myself of the bag and give it to a duty officer — Basil Black
decide to disembarrass themselves of him by killing or banishing him — Merriam McCulloch
disembarrass ourselves of the curse of ignorance and learn to work together — Alvin Johnson