unkingv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈkɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌənˈkɪŋ/ 1.
a. transitive. To cause (a person) to be no longer a king; to deprive of the position or authority of a monarch; to depose, dethrone. Formerly also: †to cause (a monarch) to behave in a manner unsuited to a king; to deprive of kingly character (obsolete). Also in extended use. Occasionally also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > removal from office or authority > remove from office or authority [verb (transitive)] > depose a sovereign > a king
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a1556 Ld. Vaux in R. Edwards Paradyse Daynty Deuises (1576) sig. K.ivv Oftentimes, of God thei wishe, to be vnkyngde againe.
1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida iv. sig. G That very word Vnkings me quite, makes me vile passions slaue.
1644 J. Maxwell Sacro-sancta Regum Majestas 3 That directly by this indirect power he [sc. the Pope] may King and unking at his pleasure.
1684 E. Pelling Serm. 30 Jan. 20 They may crown them or unking them as they think fit.
1713 in Truth at Last (BL Add. MS 5105) f. 27 These men do design To un-king the Queen and keep out the Right Line.
1784 W. Cowper in W. Hayley Life Cowper (1809) II. 158 Government therefore is bound to interfere, and to un-king these tyrants.
1815 Q. Rev. 13 489 Having..escaped unhanged when they were unkinged, they started up again to perform the part of princes in the new revolutionary drama.
1895 Independent (N.Y.) 24 Jan. 1/1 Then Grief unkinged her lover a long space.
1939 G. W. Whiting Milton's Lit. Milieu xii. 317 Canne declares that kings may be unkinged.
2008 D. Starkey Henry (2009) ii. 27 Edward IV took the surrender of Henry VI, unkinged him for a second time and sent him back to his prison.
b. transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts.
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1638 J. Suckling Aglaura i. 9 There was with me fresh Rebellion, And reason was almost unking'd agen.
1658 Anglia Rediviva ii. 14 As giving's passion every thing it craves H' unkings his Reason, and himself inslaves.
1731 Gentleman's Mag. 1 168 The comic muse Unkings your Cupid, or obstructs his views.
1818 H. H. Milman Samor v. 463 Thou..hast unking'd Thy stately soul within the wreathing arms Of that fair Saxon.
1853 Youth's Instructor Feb. 94 Death Changes the use of things, unkings our nature.
1907 W. N. Guthrie Orpheus Today 213 What dire spell abhorr'd Unkings his spirit?
1988 M. C. Miller Boxed In 295 The machine ‘unkings’ us in a less obvious way.
2. transitive (reflexive). To make oneself no longer a king; to abdicate; to give up one's royal status or character.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > withdrawing from or vacating office > vacate office [verb (reflexive)] > abdicate
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1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler Aggawam 54 I would honour their very heeles, that would..teach me..to King it better, when they saw me un-Kinging my selfe and kingdome.
1689 Advantages of Present Settlement 22 If a king..ruine his people..he so far Unkings himself.
1700 J. Tyrrell Gen. Hist. Eng. II. 794 [King John] thereby..Unking'd himself.
1767 N. Sievwright Princ., Polit. & Relig. 70 Hereby unkinging himself even before he was crowned king.
1825 New Monthly Mag. 14 45 Here was a king who had unkinged himself.
1859 J. J. Marshall Hist. Sc. Affairs 290 Charles's concessions had been in vain. He had unkinged himself.
1916 A. Symons Trag. 102 Undo the deed, Unking yourself.
2009 Jrnl. Brit. Stud. 48 869 He did not have to be deposed; he had unkinged himself.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > sovereign ruler or monarch > king > deprive of a king [verb (transitive)]
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1647 Braggadocia Souldier (single sheet) They may thus..Un-King our State, un-Church us too.
1821 Ld. Byron Marino Faliero (2nd issue) v. i. 149 A wife's dishonour unking'd Rome for ever.
1883 Harper's Mag. June 139/1 An empire, unkinged to-night, sees to-morrow a new king.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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