Extricating Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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extricating

[หˆษ›kstrษชkeษชtษชล‹ ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

removing with difficulty

To extricate means to free or remove something from a situation or a physical entrapment. It often implies that the removal is complicated and requires effort or skill.

Synonyms

detach, extract, free, release.

Examples of usage

  • He managed to extricate himself from the tangled vines.
  • The firefighters worked tirelessly to extricate the victims from the wreckage.
  • She needed to extricate her thoughts from the confusion around her.
  • The lawyer was able to extricate his client from legal troubles.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Extricating oneself can be a metaphor for overcoming mental obstacles that prevent personal growth.
  • Therapeutic practices often encourage individuals to extricate negative thoughts to foster a healthier mindset.
  • The process of extricating emotions involves recognizing and resolving complex feelings, similar to untangling a knot.

Pop Culture

  • In action movies, you often see characters extricating themselves from tight spots, like escaping from villains or dangerous locations.
  • In literature, protagonists frequently face challenges that require them to extricate themselves from dire situations, adding suspense to the story.
  • The concept is often represented in games and puzzles where characters must extricate an item or person to advance.

Science

  • In biology, 'extricating' can describe the process of removing an organism from a difficult environment, such as a trapped animal in a net.
  • In ecological studies, researchers plan strategies to extricate invasive species that disrupt local ecosystems.
  • In chemistry, the process of extricating a desired compound from a mixture involves several filtration and separation techniques.

Literature

  • Several classic novels feature characters who must extricate themselves from societal constraints to achieve their true identity.
  • Poets often use the theme of extricating emotions from complex relationships to explore human connections.
  • In many stories, extricating oneself becomes a metaphor for personal transformation and redemption.

Origin of 'extricating'

Main points about word origin

  • The word originates from Latin 'extricare', which means to free or to release.
  • Its root, 'extric-', comes from 'ex' meaning 'out of' and 'tricare', meaning 'to entangle'.
  • It was first used in the English language in the late 17th century to describe freeing something from confusion or entanglement.

The word 'extricate' comes from the Latin 'extricari', which means 'to disentangle' or 'to free from'. This Latin verb is derived from 'ex' meaning 'out of' and 'tricae', which means 'entanglements or perplexities'. The term evolved in English usage in the early 19th century, embodying the notion of carefully and skillfully freeing something that is ensnared or complicated. Over time, 'extricate' has come to be used not just in physical contexts but also in abstract situations, such as resolving complex issues or removing oneself from troublesome scenarios.


Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,738 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.