Defn: To deprive of synonymous character; to discriminate in use; — applied to words which have been employed as synonyms. Coleridge. Trench.
DETACH
De*tach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detached; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaching.]
Etym: [F. détacher (cf. It. distaccare, staccare); pref. dé (L. dis)
+ the root found also in E. attach. See Attach, and cf. Staccato.]
1. To part; to separate or disunite; to disengage; — the opposite of attach; as, to detach the coats of a bulbous root from each other; to detach a man from a leader or from a party.
2. To separate for a special object or use; — used especially in military language; as, to detach a ship from a fleet, or a company from a regiment.
Syn. — To separate; disunite; disengage; sever; disjoin; withdraw;; draw off. See Detail.
DETACH
De*tach", v. i.
Defn: To push asunder; to come off or separate from anything; to
disengage.
[A vapor] detaching, fold by fold, From those still heights.
Tennyson.
DETACHABLE
De*tach"a*ble, a.
Defn: That can be detached.
DETACHED
De*tached", a.