disestablish, v.
(dɪsɪˈstæblɪʃ)
[f. dis- 6 + establish v.]
trans. To deprive of the character of being established; to annul the establishment of. a. gen. To undo the position of anything instituted, settled, or fixed by authority or general acceptance; to depose.
| 1598 Florio Disconfermare, to vnconfirme, to disestablish. 1794 W. Taylor in Monthly Rev. XIV. 248 Labouring to disestablish those Platonic opinions. 1886 Pall Mall G. 16 June 1/1 He has disestablished Money-bags as the arbiter of elections. |
b. spec. To deprive (a church) of especial State connexion and support; to remove from the position of being the national or state church: cf. establish v. 7.
| 1838 Gladstone State in Rel. Ch. (1839) 113 If religion be injured by the national establishment of the church, it must forthwith and at whatever hazard be disestablished. 1868 Bright Sp. Ireland 1 Apr., You may be asked to disestablish their Church. 1874 Morley Compromise (1886) 116 The designs imputed to the newly reformed parliament of disestablishing the Anglican Church. |
Hence diseˈstablished (-ˈæblɪʃt), diseˈstablishing ppl. adjs.
| 1869 Daily News 2 July, The disestablished Bishops [of the Irish Church]. 1891 Spectator 17 Jan., He should take the wind out of the sails of the disestablishing party. |