unˈhouse, v.
(ʌnˈhaʊz)
[un-2 5. Cf. MDu. onthusen, WFl. onthuizen, MHG. enthûsen.]
trans. To turn out of a house, habitation, or abode; to make houseless or homeless.
| a 1375 Joseph Arim. 455 Þei come bi tholomers tentes, vn⁓housed hem sone, Token holliche his stor. 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. ii. Colonies 154 So one People doth pursue another; And scarce the second hath a first un-housed, Before a third him thence again have roused. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. vii. i, Thirsil up starting from his fearlesse bed,..Unhous'd his bleating flock. 1643 [Angier] Lanc. Vall. Achor 8 If they peeped out of the houses, they were unhoused. 1759 S. Fielding C'tess of Dellwyn II. 147 He was at once unwived, unhoused, and undone. 1795 Macneill Scotland's Scaith iii. vi, What a change, un⁓housed and beggared, Starving. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 72 Unhous'd from beds of ling The fluskering pheasant took to wing. 1885 Manch. Exam. 13 July 5/5 Only 150 persons will be for the present unhoused. |
| refl. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe 38 When he vn-houseth him, or hath cast off his shel, he..lookes as red as a Fox. 1606 J. Raynolds Dolarneys' Prim. (1880) 123 The drowsie vapours, takes their sable flyghts, And bright Aurora, doth her selfe vnhouse. 1854 Miller Sch. & Schm. xiii, We had very nearly unhoused ourselves ere our work was finished. |
b. fig. or in fig. context.
| 1594 Daniel Cleopatra (Bang) 1323, I must myselfe force open wide a dore To let out life, and to vnhouse my spirit. 1625 Milton Death Fair Infant 21 He..all unwares with his cold-kind embrace Unhous'd thy Virgin Soul from her fair biding place. 1690 C. Nesse O. & N. Test. I. 122 He that hath God for his house..can never be unhoused. 1727 De Foe Hist. Appar. v. (1840) 45 Souls which have been encased in flesh, but being unhoused are now moving about. a 1814 Sulieman ii. iii. in New Brit. Theatre II. 26 But for wine..This shatter'd shell of body had unhous'd Long since my soul. |
Hence unˈhousing vbl. n.
In mod. use also attrib., as unhousing scheme.
| 1809 R. Langford Introd. Trade 72 Unhousing, Wharfage and Shipping, {pstlg}2 2s. 1d. 1886 Pall Mall G. 22 Sept. 6/1 This scheme..will take five years to complete, so that the unhousing will be gradual. |