| 释义 |
unˈhorse, v.
[un-2 3. Cf. MDu. ontorsen.]
1. trans. To throw or drag (a person) from his horse, esp. in battle. Also in fig. context.
1390Gower Conf. I. 368 He..smot him with a dethes wounde, That he unhorsed fell to grounde. 1412–20Lydg. Chron. Troy iv. 2077 Menelay..to Troilus faste gan hym spede Fully avysed to vnhorsen hym anon. 1448–9J. Metham Amoryus & Cleopes 933 Qwat ys he yon,..that thus fersly iustyth to-day; That no knyght hym onhors may? 1530Palsgr. 768/1, I unhorse a man by feates of armes in the felde, Je rue jus. 1563Golding Cæsar 39 b, If any of them were sore wounded or vnhorsed, theis garded him about. 1607Chapman Bussy d'Ambois iv. i, He turn'd wild lightning in the lackeys' hands, Who, through their sudden violent twitch unhors'd him. 1668R. Steele Husbandman's Calling vi. (1672) 159 Neither wouldst thou be ridden at the Devil's pleasure if thou didst understand thyself: unhorse Satan quickly from off thy soul. 1724De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 277 Ireton..was unhorsed and taken prisoner. 1756tr. Keysler's Trav. I. 29 A large quantity of armour,..some for unhorsing an antagonist in a turnament. 1820Scott Monast. xxiv, To me it is recommended, because it..unhorses the lazy monks that have ridden us so long, and spur-galled us so hard. 1843James Forest Days xx, And so you unhorsed the traitor, but could neither kill nor take him?
b. fig. To dislodge, overthrow, discomfit, nonplus.
1577F. de L'isle's Legendarie G vij, The Duke of Guise and his partakers..without the policie of the Queene mother,..had at the same instant bene quite vnhorsed. 1602J. Rhodes Answ. to Romish Rime 519 So did all of Rome beside, Untill they grew to their full pride; And were of late unhorst agayne. 1656Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. i. lxxviii. (1674) 106 The trick of un⁓horsing people..by meer Words. 1680C. Nesse Church-Hist. 280 The scruple..about his marriage became the occasion of unhorsing the Pope in England. 1825Scott Talism. xxvi, Thou hast unhorsed me with that very word. 1845Disraeli Sybil (1863) 207 She did not deign even to notice the unhappy cavalier whom she had thus as it were un⁓horsed.
c. In passive: To be thrown from a horse.
1583B. Melbancke Philotimus X j b, He that rides with one girth, may feare to be vnhorst. a1713T. Ellwood Autobiography (1714) 72 It if [sc. the knife] should have been found..under my coat when I came to be Unhorsed. 1748Anson's Voy. ii. xii. 263 His horse..turning round suddenly rode off with his master, who was very near being unhorsed in the surprize. 1802James Milit. Dict., Unhorsed, thrown from the saddle; dismounted.
†2. To help (one) to dismount. Obs.
1530Palsgr. 768/1, I unhorse a man, I sette hym bysyde his horse, je desmonte. Ibid., Helpe to unhorse these ladyes.
b. intr. To dismount.
1633Quarles in P. Fletcher Poet. Wks. (1909) II. 284 I lasht through thick and thinne, Dispatch'd my businesse, and return'd agen; I call'd the second time; unhors'd, went in.
3. To deprive of a horse. rare.
1465Paston Lett. II. 178 But I trow to gyte Dorlet ayen hys hors or els Mr Phylyp ys lyke to be unhorssyd ons, and we lyve all. 1651in Crawford Proclam. (1910) II. 58 All tories not joining the army within 14 days to be unhorsed and counted traitors. 1837W. Irving Capt. Bonneville xii, A whip and a rope were left..by the robbers, as a taunt to the simpletons they had unhorsed.
4. To unharness the horses from (a carriage, etc.).
1654Earl of Monmouth tr. Bentivoglio's Wars Flanders 385 Coming to their Batteries they unhorst some of their Peeces. 1784Cowper Task vi. 701 Others..unhorse The gilded equipage,..turning loose His steeds. 1829Sir W. Napier Penins. War vi. iii, The artillery was unhorsed.
Hence unˈhorsement; unˈhorsing vbl. n.
1603Bp. Hall Serm. v. 13 If you ever therefore look to see..the unhorseing and confusion of that strumpet of Rome. 1884Traill New Lucian 52 It was a moral un⁓horsement of the most dishonouring kind. |