Dictionary

unking en · VERB

Etymology

From un- + king.

Meanings

1. (archaic) To remove (a king) from power.
   • […] the Scots were a free Nation, made King whom they freely chose, and with the same freedome un-Kingd him if they saw cause, by right of ancient laws and Ceremonies yet remaining, 1649, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates: […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], published 1649 (2nd printing), →OCLC, page 28:
   • 1754, Arthur Murphy, The Gray’s-Inn Journal, No. 66, 19 January, 1754, in Volume 2, London: P. Vaillant, 1756, p. 85, The jesting of his Fool wholly turns upon his unkinging himself and retaining nothing, which Lear minutely attends to,
   • “Yes,” cried Jonathan; “that greenhorn, standing there by the Commodore, is sailing under false colours; he's an impostor, I say; he wears my crown.” “[…] I say, Jonathan, my lad, don’t pipe your eye now about the loss of your crown; for, look you, we all wear crowns, from our cradles to our graves, and though in double-darbies in the brig, the Commodore himself can’t unking us.” 1850, Herman Melville, chapter 56, in White-Jacket; or, The World in a Man-of-War, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, publishers; London: Richard Bentley, published 1855, →OCLC:
   • God save King Harry, unking’d Richard says, And send him many years of sunshine days! 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene 1]:
2. (archaic) To deprive (a king) of his royal qualities.
   • 1677, Charles Davenant, Circe, London: Richard Tonson, Act III, Scene 6, p. 31, My swelling rage, in privacy I’le shrowd, And not un-King my self before the Crowd.
   • The soul is indifferent what garment she wears, or of what color and texture; the true king is not unkinged by being discrowned. 1845, James Russell Lowell, Conversations on Some of the Old Poets, Cambridge: MA: John Owen, Third Conversation, page 215:
   • But if a Prince shall deign to be familiar and to converse with those upon whom he might trample, shall His condescension therefore Unking Him? And His familiarity rob Him of His Royalty? 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London, page 371:
3. (archaic, figuratively) To remove (something) from a position of power or paramount importance.
   • —Oh ’tis well y’are come, there was within me fresh Rebellion, and reason was almost unking’d agen. 1638, John Suckling, Aglaura, London: Thomas Walkley, act I, scene 1, page 9:

Forms

Coordinates

unqueen

Synonyms

disenthrone · unthrone · uncrown · discrown · depose · dethrone