unstring
[verb]
Synonyms: unnerve, castrate, emasculate, enervate, unman

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

unstring verb. [ʌn'strɪŋ] Infl. as STRING verb; pa. t. & pple usu. unstrung [ʌn'strʌŋ]. L16.
[from UN-² + STRING verb. See also UNSTRUNG adjective.]
1. verb trans. Relax or remove the string or strings of (a bow, musical instrument, etc.). L16.
■ Pope His golden lyre Demodocus unstrung.
b. verbt & intrans. spec. Undo the strings of (a purse); give out money (from). Now rare. L17.
■ George Eliot My father wasn't quite so ready to unstring as some..I know of.

2. verb trans. Detach from a string. L17.
■ Gibbon Unstringing the beads from the rosary of antiquity.

3. a. verb trans. Weaken or disorder (the nerves etc.); unnerve, enervate. Freq. as unstrung ppl adjective. L17.
■ A. Powell He was..shaken, certainly more unstrung than Henchman after his fall.
■ M. Flanagan My mind is unstrung.
b. verb intrans. Of the nerves: relax, weaken. E20.
■ T. Hardy My nerves unstring,..my flesh grows weak.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲