| 释义 |
unˈmask, v.
[un-2 4, 7. Cf. Du. ont-, G. entmasken.]
1. trans. To free (the face) from a mask or vizard; to remove a mask or covering from. Also in fig. context.
1602Shakes. Ham. i. iii. 37 The chariest Maid is Prodigall enough, If she vnmaske her beauty to the Moone. 1626T. H[awkins] Caussin's Holy Crt. 134 An heresy discouered, is a face unmasked, take away the vizard, you disarme her. 1665Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 154 The Bridge..was..full of Women,..many of which..in a fair deportment un⁓masqued their faces. 1728Eliza Heywood tr. Mme. de Gomez's Belle A. (1732) II. 24 The Demand I am about to make..is to follow my Example, and immediately be all unmask'd. 1841Emerson Lect. on Times (1844) 72 To-day is a king in disguise... Let us unmask the king as he passes. 1876J. Saunders Lion in Path xxxvii, We must unmask you, pretty Mistress Preston.
refl.1825Scott Talism. x, Putting his hand to his chin, and withdrawing it with the action of one who unmasks himself.
b. To remove like a mask.
1624G. Raleigh in Farr Sel. P. Jas. I (1847) 242 Our tender muse hath labored as she could; Her sable vaile she must of force unmaske.
2. fig. To divest of a specious appearance or show; to disclose the true character of; to bring into the light; to make plain or obvious.
1593Shakes. Lucr. 1602 Vnmaske..this moodie heauinesse, And tell thy griefe. 1611Speed Theat. Gt. Brit. i. xlii. 81/2 Since the true God hath vnmasked the errors of those times by the truth of his word. 1646Gataker Mistake Removed 39 Which yet the whole drift of his discours will easily un⁓maske. 1672Wilkins Nat. Relig. 44 Time..doth by degrees discover & unmask the fallacy of ungrounded perswasions. 1704Norris Ideal World ii. iii. 257 Could we but unmask nature, and strip it of all those false ornaments wherewith our prejudiced imagination has cloathed it. 1798Monthly Mag. VI. 552 In unmasking the popular heathenism, and in revealing the immortality of the soul. 1844Thirlwall Greece VIII. 241 The accuser..unmasked their conspiracy with Apelles. 1869Mozley Univ. Serm. ii. (1876) 43 That judicial mission which was to unmask false goodness.
b. With personal object. Also refl.
a1586Sidney Arcadia ii. xxiii, Zelmane thought-sicke, unmaskes her selfe. 1640Sir W. Mure Counter-Buff 125 Now thy piece I must anatomize... The frontespiece un⁓maskes an hypocrite. 1668Temple Let. to Ld. Arlington Wks. 1720 II. 97 They must now suddenly unmask them⁓selves in one way or other, no farther Pretences being left. 1718Free-thinker No. 75. 140 The Person..lives under a perpetual Apprehension of being unmasked. 1797Mrs. Radcliffe Italian ix, ‘The hypocrite!’ said he to himself..; ‘but I will unmask him’. 1819Crabbe T. of Hall xii. 296 No sooner was it [sc. her hand in marriage] ask'd Than she the lovely Jezebel unmask'd. 1872Morley Voltaire i. 4 Christian charity feels constrained to unmask a demon from the depths of the pit.
3. absol. To take off one's mask. Also in fig. context (quot. 1683).
1603Shakes. Meas. for M. v. i. 206 My husband bids me, now I will vnmaske, This is that face..Which once [etc.]. 1611Chapman May-Day v. 74 Quint. O no, you must not vnmaske. Innoc. No, no, Ile kisse her with my maske and all. 1683Kennett Erasm. on Folly 2 At the first sight of me, you all unmasque, and appear in more lively colours. 1728Fielding Lov. in Sev. Masques iv. iii, Unmasque then. If I like your Face no better than your Principles, Madam; I will immediately take my Leave of both. 1756tr. Keysler's Trav. I. 349 A female bed-fellow, who never unmasks till she comes into the bed-chamber. 1818Lady Morgan Autobiog. (1859) 299, I was obliged to unmask from the heat, and soon got a crowd about me.
b. fig. To display one's true character.
1622Bacon Julius Cæsar Mor. & Hist. Wks. (Bohn) 502 Though this was ever his scheme, and at last put in execution, yet he did not unmask. 1745Young Nt. Th. viii. 224 Their treach'rous blessings, at the day of need, Like other faithless friends, unmask, and sting.
4. trans. Mil.
a. To reveal the presence of (a gun or battery) by opening fire.
1747Gentl. Mag. 450 The besieged unmask'd 4 batteries. 1812Examiner 31 Aug. 549/2 He unmasked a battery of forty pieces of cannon. 1884Manch. Exam. 9 Sept. 8/4 The Chinese, unmasking a mountain gun, fired on the Bayard.
b. To make patent; to show plainly.
1816Sir H. Douglas Milit. Bridges iv. 110 The other divisions..hastened their march as soon as the movement was unmasked. 1879Low Afghan War 100 With a view of making the Afghan commandant..unmask his force.
5. intr. To emerge into view.
1858Merc. Marine Mag. V. 227 Two Obelisks..on the strand..will..unmask.
Hence unˈmasking ppl. a.
1807J. Barlow Columb. vi. 568 Gates guides the onset..And tells the unmasking batteries when to roar. |