unveilv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈveɪl/, U.S. /ˌənˈveɪl/ 1. transitive. To free (the eyes, etc.) from a veil so as to give clearer sight. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (transitive)] > remove covering from eyes
unblindfoldc1430
unblind1590
unveil1599
unfilm1839
1599 Warning for Faire Women ii. 872 Now she unvailes their sight, and lets them see The horror of their foule immanity.
1650 T. Hubbert Pilula 109 Hereby the understanding is unvailed.
1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. ii. 156 Truth no more unvail'd your Eyes, Than Maggots are convinc'd to Flies.
2. figurative.1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 608 Till the Moon Rising in clouded Majestie, at length Apparent Queen unvaild her peerless light. View more context for this quotation1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey II. vi. 36 When the gay morn unveils her smiling ray.1747 J. Hervey Contempl. Night (1748) II. 81 She unveils her peerless Light, and becomes ‘the Beauty of Heaven’.
a. To disclose, display, allow to appear, by removing a veil or covering.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > showing to the sight > show to the sight [verb (transitive)]
to set beforea1000
openOE
showlOE
to put forth?c1225
kithe1297
to make (a) showing ofc1330
presenta1398
representa1398
to lay forthc1420
splayc1440
discovera1450
advisea1500
to set to (the) show?1510
to stall out1547
outlay1555
exhibit1573
strew1579
wray1587
displaya1616
ostentate1630
elevate1637
re-exhibita1648
expound1651
unveil1657
subject1720
flare1862
skin1873
patent1889
showcase1939
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > uncovering > uncover or remove covering from [verb (transitive)] > uncover and expose > by withdrawing a cloth, etc.
unlapa1450
unclothe1607
unveil1657
to lay off1699
divest1814
1657 G. Thornley tr. Longus Daphnis & Chloe 43 Daphnis..could not be merry, because he had seen..her beauty which before was not unvailed.
1690 J. Dryden Don Sebastian i. i. 14 Unveil the Woman; I wou'd view the Face That warm'd our Mufti's Zeal.
1757 T. Gray Ode I iii. i, in Odes 9 What time..To Him the mighty Mother did unveil Her aweful face.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian III. vi. 204 I claim the privilege..awarded me, and bid you unveil your countenance.
1817 P. B. Shelley Laon & Cythna i. xx. 11 She unveiled her bosom.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Witch of Atlas Ded. vi, in Compl. Wks. (1904) 412 If you unveil my Witch, no priest nor primate Can shrive you of that sin.
b. absol. and reflexive. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
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 > headgear > veil or mask
disshroud1577
unmask1594
discurtain1616
unveil1770
disenshroud1835
1770 R. Glover Leonidas (ed. 5) II. x. 123 She unveils, Then with a voice, a countenance compos'd, Go, Medon [etc.].
1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. vii. 174 The Grand Master commanded Rebecca to unveil herself.
1862 J. H. Newman Two Worlds i Unveil, O Lord, and on us shine In glory and in grace.
c. spec. To remove the covering from (a statue, etc.) so as to display it for the first time in public.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > showing to the sight > show to the sight [verb (transitive)] > a new product, statue, etc.
unveil1865
demonstrate1905
demo1969
première1977
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > uncovering > uncover or remove covering from [verb (transitive)] > uncover and expose > by withdrawing a cloth, etc. > to public for first time
unveil1865
1865 Punch 23 Sept. 17 Paulina (Britannia) unveils the Statue.
1884 American 7 218 The statue..was unveiled recently at Utrecht.
3.
a. figurative. To uncover, disclose, display, reveal.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)]
unwryc825
unhelec1000
to draw forthc1175
unhillc1200
to bring forth?c1225
unsteekc1250
let witc1275
uncovera1300
wraya1300
knowc1300
barea1325
shrivec1374
unwrapc1374
again-covera1382
nakena1382
outc1390
tellc1390
disclosea1393
cough1393
unhidea1400
unclosec1400
unhaspc1400
bewrayc1405
reveal1409
accusea1413
reveil1424
unlocka1425
unrekec1425
disclude?1440
uncurec1440
utter1444
detect1447
break1463
expose1483
divinec1500
revelate1514
to bring (also put) to light1526
decipher1529
rake1547
rip1549
unshadow1550
to lay to sight1563
uppen1565
unlace1567
unvisor?1571
resign1572
uncloak1574
disshroud1577
spill1577
reap1578
unrip1579
scour1585
unharboura1586
unmask1586
uncase1587
descrya1591
unclasp?1592
unrive1592
discover1594
unburden1594
untomb1594
unhusk1596
dismask1598
to open upc1600
untruss1600
divulge1602
unshale1606
unbrace1607
unveil1609
rave1610
disveil1611
unface1611
unsecret1612
unvizard1620
to open up1624
uncurtain1628
unscreen1628
unbare1630
disenvelop1632
unclothe1632
to lay forth1633
unshroud1633
unmuffle1637
midwife1638
dissecret1640
unseal1640
unmantle1643
to fetch out1644
undisguise1655
disvelop1658
decorticate1660
clash1667
exert1692
disinter1711
to up with1715
unbundlea1739
develop1741
disembosom1745
to open out1814
to let out1833
unsack1846
uncrown1849
to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861
unfrock1866
disbosom1868
to blow the lid off1928
flush1950
surface1955
to take or pull the wraps off1964
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iii. iii. 193 The prouidence..Keepes place with thought and almost like the gods, Do thoughts vnuaile in their dumbe cradles. View more context for this quotation
1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. Ded. §3 The lustre of this blessed Doctrine I have here endeavoured to uncloud and unveile.
1700 J. Dryden tr. Ovid Of Pythagorean Philos. in Fables 511 For I will..Dark Oracles unveil, and open all the Skies.
1794 R. Kirwan Elements Mineral. (ed. 2) I. p. ix Hitherto its treasures have been unveiled only to my eyes.
1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 421 Man veils foul deeds under fair words; God, in His word, unveils the foulness.
1885 ‘Mrs. Alexander’ At Bay viii. 117 What secrets would that meeting unveil?
b. To display to the sight; to make visible.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > be or make visible [verb (transitive)] > make visible
wisec1400
show1532
reveal1590
unbosom1610
unveil1656
visualize1912
1656 A. Cowley Davideis iv. 139 in Poems When the new Ebb of Night Did the moist world unvail to humane sight.
1740 J. Dyer Ruins of Rome 3 While their vine-mantled brows The pendent Goats unveil.
1791 A. Radcliffe Romance of Forest I. ii. 54 Unveiling the whole face of nature.
1822 P. B. Shelley Hellas 31 The splendour of the moon, When as the wandering clouds unveil'd or hid Her boundless light.
1872 H. I. Jenkinson Guide Eng. Lake District 113 The summit is gained, and an exquisite prospect is unveiled.
4. intransitive. To become free from a veil or covering.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > see [verb (intransitive)] > of eyes: become free from covering
unveil1650
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > uncovering > become uncovered [verb (intransitive)]
unveil1849
1650 H. Vaughan Silex Scintillans 54 When first thy Eies unveil, give thy Soul leave To do the like.
1849 H. W. Longfellow Lighthouse vii Eager faces, as the light unveils, Gaze at the tower.
Derivatives
unˈveiler n.
ΚΠ
1674 R. Boyle Excellency Theol. i. i. 44 Much better encomiasts of the Divine mysteries..than unvailers.
unˈveiling n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > visibility > [adjective] > appearing or becoming visible
springing?a1425
pearingc1480
peepinga1547
peering1568
unveiling1611
appearinga1616
disclosing1746
out-peeping1893
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > uncovering > [noun] > uncovering by drawing a cloth
unveiling1611
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > [noun]
discoveringa1375
nakeninga1382
bewrayingc1386
detection1471
discoverture?1473
revelationc1485
disclosinga1513
disclosurea1525
disclose1548
overture1548
patefaction1553
displaying1556
discovery1567
unripping1568
revealment1576
discoverment1578
retection1581
unmaskinga1586
unclasping?1592
denudation1593
untrussing1597
uncovering1598
detecting1604
divulging1604
divulgation1610
unvizardinga1628
exposinga1631
divulgement1632
unbowellinga1639
unfolding1646
revealinga1649
unrolling1648
pre-discovery1653
discoverance1664
unshelling1670
development1760
unveilinga1774
disclosal1786
displayment1801
divulgence1851
revelationism1854
unbosoming1910
uncovery1963
1611 J. Florio Queen Anna's New World of Words Disuelamento, an vnualing.
a1774 A. Tucker Light of Nature Pursued (1777) III. iii. 302 Lest they should esteem the very unveiling of mystery indiscreet.
1802 J. Baillie 1st Pt. Ethwald i. ii Th' unveiling moon Which calls the advent'rer forth.
1854 H. Gosse (title) The Aquarium; an Unveiling of the Wonders of the Deep Sea.
1885 Harper's Mag. Mar. 644/2 The unveiling of Fielding's bust at Taunton.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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