ontwarren

Ontwarren is a Dutch verb meaning to disentangle or untangle. It describes both literal removal of tangles from physical objects, such as rope, wire, or hair, and the figurative act of clarifying a complex situation, argument, or plan by removing confusion and resolving entanglements.

Etymology and form: The word is built with the prefix ont-, which in Dutch often signals reversal or removal, combined with a root historically associated with twisting or entanglement. The modern sense of the term aligns with undoing ties that bind or confuse, though the exact historical development can vary by dialect and period.

Usage: In contemporary Dutch, ontwarren is used across registers, from everyday speech to journalism and academic writing. It is common in discussions of problem-solving, investigative reporting, or analytical writing when a writer seeks to separate intertwined elements, identify underlying causes, or render a narrative more coherent. The term can apply to physical untangling as well as to abstract processes of disentangling ideas, data, or competing explanations.

See also: untangle, unravel, disentangle.