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# unfold

«unfold» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **To open something that was folded so it lies flat or…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 1 sentence of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (unfold, unfolds, unfolded, unfolding)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To open something that was folded so it lies flat or spreads out. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#m1)

2) (of a story or events) To happen or become known little by little. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#m2)

3) (of a leaf, flower or wing) To open out. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In everyday life you unfold a map, a letter or a towel. In stories and the news «events unfolded» means things happened one after another and we learnt about them slowly. In maths, unfolding a paper shape or a box shows its net. Phrases: «unfold a map», «as the story unfolds», «watch events unfold».

### examples

- But every attempt to unfold this mystery has hitherto been unsuccessful". (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#x1)
- Unfold the map so we can find the beach. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#x2)
- She unfolded the letter and began to read. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#x3)
- As the story unfolds, we find out who the thief is. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#x4)
- We watched the race unfold on the big screen. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#x5)
- In spring the new leaves unfold on the trees. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#x6)
- The butterfly slowly unfolded its wings. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#x7)
- If you unfold the cereal box, you can see its net. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#x8)
- Oh! what wonders and splendours unfolded themselves before Elsa’s astonished eyes! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/#x9)

### note

Regular verb: unfolded, unfolding. The opposite of «fold». The prefix «un-» here means «undo», not «not». For a story it is often used without an object: «the plot unfolds».

### In the corpora

- [Every prudent man dealeth with forethought; but a fool unfoldeth folly.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PRO.365/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «unfold» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/unfold/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.