| 释义 |
unˈclothe, v.
[un-2 4; cf. unclead v.]
1. trans. To divest (a person) of clothing; to undress; to strip.
c1300Havelok 659 Grim dede maken a ful fayr bed; Vncloþede him, and dede him þer-inne. 1382Wyclif Matt. xxvii. 28 And thei vnclothinge hym, diden aboute hym a rede mantel. 1485in Rutland Papers (Camden) 16 Wher as the King shalbe vnraied and vnclothed by his Chamberlayn. 1556Aurelio & Isab. (1608) P iv, They unclothede him of his garmentes. 1632Lithgow Trav. x. 476, I was..vnclothed to my skin. 1790Burns Let. in Cromek Reliques (1808) 101 Unclothing the naturalist [in a picture], and giving him a rather more resolute look.
transf.c1440Pallad. on Husb. iv. 449 In the wynter seson, Couert of stre their coldes most appeson. When somer comth, vnclothe hem.
b. refl. († Also with double object.)
1382Wyclif Ezek. xliv. 19 Thei shuln vnclothe hem her clothingus. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon xxii. 491 He wente to his chambre, & vnclothed hymselfe from his goode raymentes. 1530Palsgr. 766/2 Unclothe you at ones, for you shall be trymmed starke naked. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. ii. xxi. 58 Seats..vppon the whiche they vncloth themselues. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies v. xxiv. 397 The ceremonies, dancing and sacrifice ended, they went to vnclothe themselves.
transf.1661Morgan Sph. Gentry i. vi. 87 The Sheep doth uncloth it self to apparel man.
c. In various figurative uses.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de. W. 1531) 82 To vnclothe our olde man and make hym all naked, that he may be renewed in god. 1586T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. 440 Let us learne to uncloath our harts of all envie and hatred. 1622S. Ward Life of Faith in Death 104 Though they doe not Cynically reuile the body as a Clog, a prison,..yet are they willing, yea and sigh to be vncloathed. 1632J. Hayward tr. Biondi's Eromena 23 You'l uncloath your owne shame, and thereby procure your selfe many losses and disgraces. 1671J. Flavel Fount. Life v. 13 The Seleusians affirmed that He unclothed himself of His Humanity. 1849Stovel Canne's Necess. 55 The sombre but joyous magnanimity of Frith unclothed an element in human nature which human expedients can never overcome. 1870Newman Gram. Assent ii. x, Why am I..unclothing my mind of that large outfit of existing thoughts,..desires, and hopes, which make me what I am?
2. To strip of leaves or vegetation.
In the first quot. perhaps intr., ‘to shed the leaves’.
a1547Surrey in Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 16 When Boreas gan his raigne, And euery tree vnclothed fast, as nature taught them plaine. 1613Dennis Secr. Angling i. v, When..blustring Boreas with his chilling cold, Vnclothed hath the Trees of Sommers greene. 1707Mortimer Husb. Ss 3 b, Nov[ember]..generally proves dry, and the Earth and Trees are wholly uncloathed.
3. To remove a cloth or cloths from.
In early quots. perh. strictly uncloth.
1607Markham Cavel. iii. (1617) 21 First let your Groom vncloath him, then..dresse him in such sort as belongs to his place and office. 1623― Eng. Housew. v. 217 Couer it ouer with some thicke wollen clothes,..the warmth whereof will make it Come presently: which once perceiued, then forth⁓with vncloth it. 1825J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 39 Many wind-mills are provided with flying-balls, which, by very ingenious mechanism, clothe and unclothe the sails just in proportion to the strength of the wind. 1893N. & Q. 8th Ser. III. 75/2 When the force of the wind increased, the miller was obliged to bring each of the sails in succession to the ground, in order to ‘unclothe’ it.
Hence unˈclothing vbl. n.
1643Caryl Expos. Job I. 104 Death is called an uncloathing,..because it pulleth all outward things off from a man. 1650Baxter Saints' R. v. §2. 54 If unclothing be the thing thou fearest; why, it is, that thou mayst have better clothing put on. |