v. [UN-2 4 b.]
1. trans. To clear or free from clouds.
1598. Florio, Disnebbiare, to vncloude, to cleere vp.
c. 1610. Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, IV. i. ’Tis the King Will have it so, whose breath can still the winds, Uncloud the Sun.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., V. lxxiii. This Monarch Star, Making his progresse through the Signes, unclouds the air.
2. transf. and fig. To free from obscurity or gloom; to clear, make clear.
1594. Constable’s Diana, Printer to Rdr. Obscur’d wonders … visited me…, and I in regard of Aeneas honour, have vnclouded them vnto the worlde.
1607. Earl Stirling, J. Cæsar, IV. i. When friend-ship one of them pretends, The other likewise doth un-cloud the face.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnotheo, Poet. Wks. 1721, III. 375. Down from high Heav’n rush’d a strong gracious Wind, Dispelling Mists, unclouding ev’ry Mind.
1789. T. Twining, Aristotle’s Treat. Poetry (1812), I. 305. It is in the true spirit of a modern drinking song: recommending it to the servant to uncloud his brow.
1891. C. E. Norton, Dante’s Purgat., xxviii. 179. The psalm … affords light which may uncloud your understanding.
refl. a. 1672. P. S[terry], Appear. God to Man, Wks. (1710), 328. Things seen in their Unseen and Divine Forms, unclouding themselves, shining out upon the Soul.
3. absol. To become clear.
1874. Kingsley, Lett., etc. (1877), II. 431. I am hopeful that as she gets weaker the brain will uncloud.
1879. G. Macdonald, P. Faber, I. xv. 176. Every now and then she cast up a glance, and there were black suns unclouding over a white sea.
Hence Unclouding vbl. sb.
1704. Norris, Ideal World, II. iii. 162. It is for the unclouding of both, to observe a definitive strickness in the use of our words.
