v. [UN-2 6 b.]
1. trans. To deprive of the qualities or traits of a woman; to remove from the category of women. Occas. refl. Also const. of.
1611. Florio, Disdonnare, to vnwoman.
1614. T. Adams, Divells Banket, 5. A degenerate woman, unwomaned … of both modestie and chastitie.
1621. G. Sandys, Ovid’s Met., II. (1626), 37. Shee, whose wicked deeds Vnwoman’d her.
1631. Brathwait, Eng. Gentlew., 123. One weary of her sexe, forbore not to vnwoman her selfe, by assuming not onely a virile habit, but a virago’s heart.
1744. Eliza Heywood, Female Spect., No. 5 (1748), I. 263. There is nothing … so shocking to the … modesty of our sex,… that we may not … degenerate into, if we proceed to unwoman ourselves.
1839. Mrs. Browning, Romaunt Page, xxv. My love … shall requite No woman, whether dark or bright, Unwomaned if she be.
1863. Mrs. Oliphant, Salem Chapel, xxi. Not all her personal wretchedness could unwoman the minister’s mother so much as to make her forgive … Phœbe’s presumption.
2. To unsex (a woman). rare–1.
1827. Lancet, 20 Oct., 71. Taking away the ovaries altogether … would unwoman her.
