[UN-2 6 b. Cf. MDu. (Du.) ontmannen, MHG. (G.) entmannen.]
1. trans. To deprive of the attributes of a man; to remove from the category of men.
1598. Marston, Sco. Villanie, II. vii. (1599), 204. Why, sower Satyrist, Canst thou vnman him? here I dare insist And soothly say, he is a perfect soule.
1643. Tuckney, Balm of G., 40. It is … the cruell man (saith Solomon) that troubles his owne flesh; nay the Apostle un-manneth him that hates it.
1681. Baxter, Acc. Sherlocke, vi. 212. Every Humanist that useth … gawdy fashions, is not thereby unchristened, unchurched, or unman’d.
1771. G. Hickes, Two Treat. Chr. Priesth. (ed. 3), I. p. ccx. We cannot suppose that infinite Goodness would bind us … to such strict unalterable Duties, as unman us in this World.
1751. R. Shirra, in Rem. (1850), 86. The first [Ebion] ungods him; the other [Marcion] unmans him.
1884. Browning, Ferishtah, Family, 77. I may put forth angel’s plumage, once unmanned, but not before.
2. To reduce below the level of man; to degrade, brutalize. Also refl.
1637. A. Stafford, Vind. Fem. Glory (1860), p. xxii. Hee that is not tender … unmanneth himselfe, and is but best a Monster … in humane shape.
1660. trans. Amyraldus’ Treat. conc. Relig., I. vii. 106. They whom barbarisme ha’s unman’d in all other things.
1701. W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, 246. Habits of Vice unman Men’s minds.
3. To deprive of manly courage or fortitude; to make weak or effeminate.
c. 1600. Chalkhill, Thealma & Clearchus, 846. They heard they had unmann’d themselves by ease.
1605. Shaks., Macb., III. iv. 73. What? quite vnmann’d in folly…. Fie for shame.
a. 1628. F. Grevil, Poems, Hum. Learn., xlii. Engines that did un-man the mindes of men.
1673. Hickeringill, Greg. F. Greyb., 318. Impressions of fear that mollifie and unman vulgar and narrow spirits.
1715. Addison, Drummer, III. i. That dear Woman! the sight of her unmans me.
1736. A. Hill, Zara, V. I. 64. Tears!… The first which ever yet unmann’d my Eyes!
1780. Mirror, No. 90. This blow, for a time, unmanned me quite.
1847. Prescott, Peru, I. 441. For a moment the overwhelming conviction of it unmanned him.
1883. Manch. Exam., 24 Nov., 5/1. Thirty or forty years of such treatment is enough to unman any people.
absol. 1811. Byron, Euthanasia, vi. And women’s tears, produced at will, Deceive in life, unman in death.
4. To divest of the character of a grown man. Also intr. (for refl.).
1672. Penn, Spir. Truth Vind., 23. As he is unmanned, that is, again become a little Child.
1889. Harper’s Mag., Jan., 191/2. But find where children haunt, and there unman, And with them laugh and play.
5. To deprive of virility; to emasculate.
1684–9. A. G., in Plutarch’s Morals (1718), IV. 334. Because the Samians had saved the Children of the Greeks from being unmann’d [tr. 1603 from eviration].
1885. E. Clodd, Myths & Dreams, 36. Gæa … provided Cronus … with an iron sickle, wherewith he unmanned Uranus.
6. To denude (a vessel or fleet) of men.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. s.v., To unman a Ship, desarmer un Vaisseau.
1696. in London Gaz., No. 3250/1. After the Fleet has been Manned, it hath been in a great Measure Unmanned again by Desertion.
1796. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1846), VII. p. xxxiv. If the Admiral had small Vessels, he could not venture to unman his Fleet.
7. fig. To deprive (oneself) of something.
1694. R. Franck, North. Mem., Ded. p. xv. Let me admonish the more Ingenious Artist to be mindful of Experience, lest peradventure he slide into the slippery Tract of an Author, so unman himself of practical Demonstration.
Hence Unmanning vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, VII. xxiv. 285. Here they feare not the vn-manning of them-selues.
1624. Middleton, Game at Chess, I. i. I never give absolution To any crime of that unmanning nature.
1831. Coleridge, Table-t., 12 Sept. The most wretched and unmanning reluctance and shrinking from action.
1886. Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll, 58. A place for sufferings and terrors so unmanning.
