unrobev.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈrəʊb/, U.S. /ˌənˈroʊb/ 1.
a. transitive. To remove a robe or robes or (occasionally) other covering from. Also with of. Also reflexive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > undressing or removing clothing > undress or remove clothing [verb (reflexive)] > divest of specific garments
unmuffle1579
unrobe1598
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > undressing or removing clothing > undress or remove clothing [verb (transitive)] > strip or undress a person > divest of specific garments > other
stripc1422
unwimplec1430
unhose1483
unmuffle1579
ungarter1594
unrobe1598
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Spogliare,..to disaray, to vnrobe.
1626 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. VIII. O. T. xx. 82 Not one of those which were present, might be vnrobed.
1687 T. Smith in J. R. Bloxham Magdalen Coll. & James II (1886) (modernized text) 25 Several went into the outward Chapel to unrobe themselves.
1711 G. Hickes Two Treat. (ed. 3) II. i. 17 He robed, and unrobed himself in his Throne.
1816 S. T. Coleridge Christabel i. 17 But now unrobe yourself; for I Must pray, ere yet in bed I lie.
1850 R. Gordon-Cumming Five Years Hunter's Life S. Afr. I. xii. 263 I considered myself..fortunate in having secured so noble a specimen of the lion..and I at once set men to work to unrobe him.
1905 H. H. Peerless Diary 8 Mar. in Brief Jolly Change (2003) 89 We stand and watch this holy mummery, and then they unrobe the bishop and we pass away—out to the Campanile or Leaning Tower of Pisa just opposite.
1991 D. Bolger Woman's Daughter (1992) 111 From before dawn on Sundays till the last priest was unrobed he bundled me from front pew to front pew, dressed in my worst rags.
b. transitive. figurative. To remove some attribute or quality from. Usually with of.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > loss > taking away > take away [verb (transitive)] > dispossess
disseisec1320
disincreasec1374
disheritc1400
disappoint1434
unpossessc1449
forbanishc1450
dispoint1483
disemparec1500
usurp1512
defeat?1545
depose1558
devest1563
dispossess1565
disappropriate1610
disadvest1611
expropriate1611
dispropriate1613
dispropertya1616
disinvest1619
divest1648
unrobe1650
defarm1693
1650 Man in Moon No. 51. 386 Jove hath store of thunderbolts, that he can throw at pleasure to singe the hairy scalp of Rebellion..and unroabe you of your deep-dy'd Hypocrisy.
1767 London Rev. Eng. & Foreign Lit. Sept. 210 Some of the honourable members of that house, seeing it in this dark disguise, endeavoured to unrobe it of its darkness.
1838 E. Cook Love's First Dream iii It fades..; Leaving the spirit, unrobed of light, In darkness and tears behind.
1874 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David IV. Ps. lxxxii. 7 How quickly death unrobes the great!
1986 R. Sinari in R. Balasubramanian & S. Bhattacharyya Freedom, Progress, & Society 46 The endeavor of both these ontologico-ethical movements has been to unrobe the self of all its worldly entanglements.
2. intransitive. To remove clothing, esp. a robe or robes. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > undressing or removing clothing > undress or remove clothing [verb (intransitive)] > remove specific garments > robe or gown
disgowna1734
unrobe1741
1741 T. Boreman Hist. & Descr. St. Paul's II. iv. 77 The residentiarys and singing mens vestry, where they all robe and unrobe.
1743 E. Young Complaint: Night the Fourth 5 When, on their Exit, Souls are bid unrobe,..And drop this Mask of Flesh behind the Scene.
1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 117 There is no vestry room for the minister to robe and unrobe.
1837 J. R. McCulloch Statist. Acct. Brit. Empire II. iv. ii. 240 The Lords also adjourn..to unrobe.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xv. 574 The King..unrobed, took his seat,..and listened..to the debate.
1945 ‘E. Crispin’ Holy Disorders x. 127 The Acolyte had gone, but the Celebrant was unrobing, his back turned towards them.
2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 16 July e4/4 It's really like a normal T-shirt... You can unrobe in the locker room and not feel like an International Male.
Derivatives
unˈrobing adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > undressing or removing clothing > [adjective]
unrobing1810
disrobing1813
1810 J. Montgomery W. Indies 157 Still the unrobing spirit cast Diviner glories to the last.
1869 W. J. Courthope Ludibria Lunae i. 34 Armlets, and rings in nightly raid Oft stol'n from fair unrobing maid.
1907 D. Sladen Secrets of Vatican xviii. 415 Anyone..is allowed to stray into the sacristies of Italian churches and cathedrals, even when they are being used by robing and unrobing priests.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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