Undeify

v. [UN-² 6 c.] trans. To deprive of the status, character, or qualities of a deity.

1637.  R. Ashley, trans. Malvezzi’s David Persecuted, 119. All sinners in regard of themselves doe undeifie him.

1664.  H. More, Myst. Iniq., vi. 121. It is plainly to un-deify him, if I may so speak, and to declare him to be no God at all.

1711.  Addison, Spec., No. 73, ¶ 11. An Idol may be Undeified by many accidental Causes.

1789.  J. White, Earl Strongbow, I. 93. Modern Noble who employ their pens in writing down religion, and undeifying their Redeemer.

1845.  R. Wardlaw, in Ess. Chr. Union, vi. 307. The acknowledgement of Him undeified all else besides.

1871.  Macduff, Mem. Patmos, 161. Let us not dethrone and undeify the great Maker and Sustainer.

  refl.  1675.  J. Smith, Chr. Relig. App., I. 15. They must undeifie themselves, and become no Gods of other Cities, before they are allowed to be Gods in that.

1700.  Asgill, Argument, 36. God cannot lie without undeifying himself.

1709.  Brit. Apollo, II. No. 44. 2/1. To act contrary to his own … Eternal Essence, and Consequently to Un-Deify himself.

  absol.  1718.  Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 353. This would infer a superior excellency in the First, and undeify.

  Hence Undeifying vbl. sb. and ppl. a.

1637.  R. Ashley, trans. Malvezzi’s David Persecuted, 4. It is an undeifying of God.

a. 1680.  Charnock, Attrib. God (1834), I. 201. When we come before him with undeifying thoughts of him.

1864.  Pusey, Lect. Daniel, 271, note. The whole boasted theory then … was at stake, and, with it, the whole undeifying of prophecy.