v. [UN-2 3.]
1. trans. To retract, cancel, or abrogate (a wish, choice, etc.).
1594. Southwell, Mary Magd. Funeral Tears, 48 b. If that wish had taken effect, I would now vnwish it again.
a. 1639. W. Whateley, Prototypes, II. xxiv. (1640), 12. Had not Job cause to unwish his former wishes.
1651. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., II. xxxiv. 267. Who … lived to disdesire and unwish their former choise by late repentance.
1853. Miss Yonge, Heir of Redclyffe, i. ‘Never was a more absurd wish,’ said Charles…; ‘unwish it forthwith.’
1864. Miss Smedley, Linnet’s Trial, II. IV. i. 222. I hope you won’t un-wish your wish as soon as it is gratified.
absol. 1881. Miss Yonge, Lads & Lasses Langley, ii. 110. Frank was left to wish and unwish.
2. To make an end of by wishing; to wish away or annihilated. Also refl.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. iii. 76. Now thou hast vnwisht fiue thousand men: Which likes me better, then to wish vs one.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., v. 71. The most tedious being is that which can unwish it self, content to be nothing, or never to have been.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. 179. Were I sure never to be pleased, my next Business should be to unwish my self, and pray for Annihilation.
b. To wish or desire (a circumstance or thing) not to be.
1628. Quarles, Argalus & P., II. 71. Performe, performe what now it is too late, T’ unwish againe, too soone to violate.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. x. 38. To desire there were no God, were plainly to unwish their owne being.
1709. O. Dykes, Eng. Prov. & Refl. (ed. 2), 170. Crack’d Maiden-heads cannot be set together again, like broken China,… by unwishing the Misfortune.
1821. Byron, Sardan., IV. i. 275. Do not poison all My peace left, by unwishing that thou wert A father.
1876. Miss Broughton, Joan, I. xxviii. What we wish to-day, often we unwish to-morrow.
c. refl. To seek to remove (oneself) from a particular class or category by wishing; to wish not to be something.
1615. Hall, Contemp., O. T., IX. vii. How many shall unwish themselves Christians, when God’s revenges have found them out!
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter, ii. 10. At that dreadfull day how many shall unwish themselves Christians?
Hence Unwishing vbl. sb.
1699. R. L’Estrange, Fables, II. lxxii. 69. This Levity, of Wishing, and Unwishing, is … the Great Bus’ness and Mistake of Humane Life.
