v. [UN-2 3, 7. Cf. OE. ontsecgan (once), to renounce, abjure, OHG. antsagên, MHG. (G.) entsagen, MDu. (Du.) ontzeggen.]
† 1. trans. To deny. Obs.
c. 1460. Oseney Reg., 167. Fore þe saide Richard … may not vnsay but þat þe saide Hugh of Tywe yafe … the foresaide tenement.
2. To withdraw, retract, or revoke (something said or written).
1483. Vulgaria abs Terentio, 29. J say & vnsay itt.
1557. N. T. (Genev.), Acts xi. 18, note. That they were not ashamed to vnsay that wherof they had vniustely blamed Peter.
1571. Golding, Calvin on Ps. lxxiii. 1. They openly unsaid that which they had sayd afore.
1613. T. Milles, trans. Mexia’s Treas. Anc. & Mod. T., II. 964/2. So shall you be sure, neuer to vnsay your owne words.
1687. Reflect. on Hind & Panther, 21. He has Face enough to say or unsay any thing.
1741. Richardson, Pamela, III. 322. The less you said against her, the less you’d have to unsay.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, IV. i. 137. For thine own sake unsay those dreadful words.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 53. Yet you can speak thus calmly of unsaying All we have said.
transf. 1745. Akenside, Odes Sev. Subjects, On Love, x. Even now, While thus I preach the Stoic strain, Unless I shun Olympia’s view, An hour unsays it all again.
b. intr. (Freq. in 17th cent.)
1575–85. Abp. Sandys, Serm., vii. 111. That it is good Christendome to lie, sweare, and forsweare, to say and vnsay to any.
1646. Evance, Noble Order, 3. How can God be said to Say and unsay?
1692. Washington, trans. Milton’s Def. Pop., ii. 43. Who would trust him … that in things of so great concern says and unsays without any consideration?
1878. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. cxvi. 11. It is so much easier to say than to unsay.
Hence Unsaying vbl. sb.; Unsayer.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. clxxxix. 1177. Hee is no vnsaier as mortall men bee.
1647. Hexham, I. s.v., An Vnsaying of that which one hath spoken or written.
1669. Stillingfl., Serm., x. (1673), 190. As though the unsaying what we had done … were abundant compensation … for the affronts.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 178, ¶ 2. A most happy art in saying and unsaying.
1856. R. A. Vaughan, Mystics, XIII. i. II. 301. Such saying and unsaying is not convenient merely,… but in the highest degree artistic.
