To wind off

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Wind \Wind\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wound} (wound) (rarely
   {Winded}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Winding}.] [OE. winden, AS.
   windan; akin to OS. windan, D. & G. winden, OHG. wintan,
   Icel. & Sw. vinda, Dan. vinde, Goth. windan (in comp.). Cf.
   {Wander}, {Wend}.]
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   1. To turn completely, or with repeated turns; especially, to
      turn about something fixed; to cause to form convolutions
      about anything; to coil; to twine; to twist; to wreathe;
      as, to wind thread on a spool or into a ball.
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            Whether to wind
            The woodbine round this arbor.        --Milton.
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   2. To entwist; to infold; to encircle.
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            Sleep, and I will wind thee in arms.  --Shak.
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   3. To have complete control over; to turn and bend at one's
      pleasure; to vary or alter or will; to regulate; to
      govern. "To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus." --Shak.
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            In his terms so he would him wind.    --Chaucer.
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            Gifts blind the wise, and bribes do please
            And wind all other witnesses.         --Herrick.
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            Were our legislature vested in the prince, he might
            wind and turn our constitution at his pleasure.
                                                  --Addison.
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   4. To introduce by insinuation; to insinuate.
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            You have contrived . . . to wind
            Yourself into a power tyrannical.     --Shak.
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            Little arts and dexterities they have to wind in
            such things into discourse.           --Gov. of
                                                  Tongue.
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   5. To cover or surround with something coiled about; as, to
      wind a rope with twine.
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   {To wind off}, to unwind; to uncoil.

   {To wind out}, to extricate. [Obs.] --Clarendon.

   {To wind up}.
      (a) To coil into a ball or small compass, as a skein of
          thread; to coil completely.
      (b) To bring to a conclusion or settlement; as, to wind up
          one's affairs; to wind up an argument.
      (c) To put in a state of renewed or continued motion, as a
          clock, a watch, etc., by winding the spring, or that
          which carries the weight; hence, to prepare for
          continued movement or action; to put in order anew.
          "Fate seemed to wind him up for fourscore years."
          --Dryden. "Thus they wound up his temper to a pitch."
          --Atterbury.
      (d) To tighten (the strings) of a musical instrument, so
          as to tune it. "Wind up the slackened strings of thy
          lute." --Waller.
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