unbuildv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈbɪld/, U.S. /ˌənˈbɪld/ a. transitive. To pull down, destroy, demolish (a building or structure).
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > break [verb (transitive)] > break down, demolish, or ruin
spillc950
fellOE
to cast downc1230
destroy1297
to turn up?c1335
to throw down1340
to ding downc1380
to break downa1382
subverta1382
underturn1382
to take downc1384
falla1400
to make (a building, etc.) plain (with the earth)a1400
voida1400
brittenc1400
to burst downc1440
to pull downc1450
pluck1481
tumble1487
wreck1510
defacea1513
confound1523
raze1523
arase1530
to beat downc1540
ruinate1548
demolish1560
plane1562
to shovel down1563
race?1567
ruin1585
rape1597
unwall1598
to bluster down16..
raise1603
level1614
debolish1615
unbuilda1616
to make smooth work of1616
slight1640
to knock down1776
squabash1822
collapse1883
to turn over1897
mash1924
rubble1945
to take apart1978
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 198 To vnbuild the Citie, and to lay all flat. View more context for this quotation
1642 T. Goodwin Zervbbabels Encouragement 25 Thou didst unbuild Hierusalem and my Temple.
1684 T. Burnet Theory of Earth i. 91 God builds and unbuilds worlds: and who shall build up that arch that was broke down at the deluge?
1751 C. Labelye Descr. Westm. Bridge 81 Whilst the Arches were unbuilding and taking down.
1820 P. B. Shelley Cloud in Prometheus Unbound 200 I arise and unbuild it again.
1829 T. Carlyle in Foreign Rev. Jan. 468 The Ephesian Temple..could be un-built by one madman, in a single hour.
1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz in La Saisiaz: Two Poets of Croisic 13 Priestesses Unbuilt and then rebuilt it every May.
b. In figurative uses. Also absol.
ΚΠ
1640 W. Habington Hist. Edward IV 75 The Almightie..permitted perjurie now to unbuild the greatnesse of Lancaster.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 81 When they come to model Heav'n.., how they will weild The mightie frame, how build, unbuild . View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 526 What will they then..but unbuild His living Temples, built by Faith to stand..? View more context for this quotation
1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics (1860) I. v. i. 112 First of all exerting his extraordinary will to the utmost to unbuild his body.
1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth Lang. iv. 74 The component elements of speech are first unified, then unbuilt and destroyed.
Derivatives
unˈbuilding n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > breaking or cracking > [noun] > demolition
subversiona1382
razinga1400
racing?a1450
beating down1530
rasing1552
demolishing1560
plucking1560
demolitiona1572
downpulling1581
demolishment1602
slighting1640
wreck1711
wrecking1775
wreckage1837
train-wrecking1872
unbuilding1879
demo1945
1879 R. C. Trench Poems 155 Build it this time..A holy house,..And we, though in the unbuilding there be pain, Will still affirm,—'tis well.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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