▪ I. unˈwreathe, v.1
[un-2 3. Cf. unwrithe v.]
trans. To free from a wreathed or entwined condition; to disentwine, untwist. Also refl.
| 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Destorcer, to vnwreath, detorquere. 1660 Boyle New Exp. Phys. Mech. Digress. 379 The Beards of wilde Oats..continually wreath and unwreath themselves according to the even, light variations of the temperature of the ambient Air. 1731 Bailey (vol. II), Unwrithen, unwreathed, untwisted, straitened. 1810 Southey Kehama xvi. xix, The Beast..Unwreathes his rings and strives to fly. 1822 Shelley tr. Calderon's Mag. Prodig. iii. 75 Leafy Vine, unwreath thy bower. |
▪ II. unˈwreathe, v.2
[un-2 4.]
trans. To divest of a wreath or wreaths.
(In quot. absol.)
| 1852 Grote Greece ii. lxx. IX. 137 Probably the operations of wreathing and unwreathing must here have been performed by the soldiers symbolically. |