v. [UN-2 6 b and 4. Cf. Du. ontzielen, G. entseelen.]
1. trans. To deprive of spirit or courage.
a. 1634. Chapman, Rev. for Honour, I. i. 204. For shame, sir!… Your sad appearance, should they thus behold you, Would half unsoul your army.
1641. Shirley, Cardinal, II. i. Such Another were enough to unsoul an Army; Ignobly talk of patience till they drink And reel to death?
2. To deprive of soul; to make soulless. Also const. of.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., I. xxi. Such are their ranting catches, to unsoul And out-law man.
1654. Cokaine, Dianea, IV. 336. But Cruelty … spoiles, unbowels, unsoules the world.
a. 1743. Ozell, trans. Brantome’s Sp. Rhodom. (1744), 123. Heaps of Bodies they had un-soul’d and deprived of vital air.
1805. Wordsw., Prelude, XII. 83. Even so could I unsoul As readily by syllogistic words Those mysteries of being.
1858. J. Culross, Lazarus Revived, 46. There is a way of making truth plain and comprehensible by unsouling it of all that is … most precious in it.
3. To deprive of the essential qualities of a soul.
1653. H. More, Antid. Ath., Wks. (1712), 13. You may as soon unsoul the Soul.
a. 1680. Charnock, Attrib. God (1834), I. 88. [When] we seem to deny the being of God,… we seem also to unsoul our souls.
