v. [UN-2 5. Cf. Du. ontboezemen.]
1. trans. To bring out from the breast or heart; to give vent to; esp. to disclose, reveal.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 141. Their seuerall counsels they vnbosome shall.
1645. Quarles, Sol. Recant., v. 31. Here may thy Griefs unbosome all their grones.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., ix. (1821), 412. But God … is pleased to unbosom his secrets, and most clearly to manifest the way into the holiest of all.
1715. De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. i. (1841), II. 9. I have longed a great while to unbosom my sorrows to somebody.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XVI. viii. He then unbosomed the violence of his passion to Lady Bellaston.
1844. Thirlwall, Greece, VIII. 149. It was difficult to find a friend to whom he could safely unbosom his views or wishes.
1854. J. S. C. Abbott, Napoleon (1855), II. xxv. 468. He was freely unbosoming his perplexities and his anguish to General Coletta.
b. refl. To disclose or reveal one’s thoughts, secrets, etc.
1628. T. Ball, Life Preston (1885), 171. To him he, therefore, now unbossomed himselfe.
1673. True Worship God, 44. When men unbosome themselves to their Ministers.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 528, ¶ 1. [I] have now taken Pen, Ink, and Paper, and am resolv’d to unbosom my self to you.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XIV. ix. Mr. Nightingale, taking the old gentleman with him up stairs,… unbosomed himself as follows.
1803. Censor, 1 Oct., 110. Having been lately in great distress of mind,… I was led … to unbosom myself to several friends.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, vi. The fat fellow could not be brought to unbosom himself of his great secret.
c. absol. = prec.
1733. P. Shaw, trans. Bacon’s De Sap. Vet., B.’s Phil. Wks. I. 593. Princes usually treat such Persons familiarly; and … think they may with safety unbosom to them.
1772. Foote, Nabob, I. Wks. 1799, II. 295. Similarity of sentiments … may have induced him to unbosom to you.
1804. H. K. White, Lett. to B. Maddock, Sept. I am long before I can unbosom to a friend.
1879. Meredith, Egoist, xxix. She was really the last person to whom be could unbosom.
2. To lay open or disclose to the eye.
1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict. & Tri., II. xi. Rose-buds bright, Unbosoming their brests against the light.
1728–46. Thomson, Spring, 526. Along these blushing borders, bright with dew,… Fair-handed Spring unbosoms every grace.
1845. Bailey, Festus (ed. 2), 258. The world in vain unbosometh her beauty, We have no list to live.
3. To empty or exhaust (the bosom). rare–1.
1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict. & Tri., I. xiii. Greefes companie … That lankes the cheekes, and pales the freshest sight, Unbosoming the cheerfull brest of all delight.
Hence Unbosomer.
1850. Thackeray, Pendennis, xxiv. That great unbosomer of secrets, a cigar.
1895. Purcell, Life Cdl. Manning, I. xxii. 475. Not as a teacher, but as an unbosomer of his own burdens.
