Unjams

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To remove an obstruction from a device or mechanism that is causing it to malfunction
2. To clear away a blockage that prevents proper operation or function
3. To restore normal functionality by eliminating a hindrance that disrupts performance

Etymology: "Unjams" is the third-person singular present form of "unjam", so the verb itself is what needs explaining. It is formed from the prefix "un-" and the verb "jam", with "un-" meaning "reverse the action of" or "undo". To unjam something is therefore to undo a jam, the jam being the obstruction that stops a machine or mechanism from working. The "un-" part has a long history in English. It descends from Old English "on-", which was used with verbs to mean the opposite of the base action, and it passed through Middle English before taking its modern form. Its lineage reaches back to Proto-Germanic "anda-", which shares ancestry with words meaning "against" or "back".

Synonyms: clears, frees