unhorse
Americanverb (used with object)
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to cause to fall from a horse, as in battle; dislodge from the saddle.
Sir Gawain unhorsed the strange knight.
-
to defeat; overcome; dislodge, as from a position or office.
His vigorous campaign unhorsed his adversary.
verb
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(usually passive) to knock or throw from a horse
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to overthrow or dislodge, as from a powerful position
-
rare to unharness horses from (a carriage, etc)
Etymology
Origin of unhorse
First recorded in 1350–1400, unhorse is from the Middle English word unhorsen. See un- 2, horse
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Unseating Bush was daunting, as it is to unhorse any incumbent president.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 23, 2019
Neither was overly eager for the tougher assignment of trying to unhorse Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, 72.
From Time Magazine Archive
This and a score more of tempests and squalls could not unhorse him.
From Time Magazine Archive
Inevitably, some Administration forces thought that McCarthy's move to unhorse Johnson might, in fact, confirm everyone's faith in American political fourflushing.
From Time Magazine Archive
The final tourney should be fought; Geirald and Rosald should meet singly two knights of the king’s court, and he who could unhorse his foe should be master of herself and of her kingdom.
From The Brown Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
This physical expansion brought with it the soaring costs that have unhorsed so many other bricks-and-mortar retailers.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2019
This came after the outgoing speaker had already been unhorsed for his own ethical failings.
From Fox News ● Feb. 6, 2019
This is a group dedicated to rehabilitating the reputation of a king they say was much maligned by Shakespeare and supporters of Henry Tudor, who killed Richard after he was unhorsed in battle.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 22, 2015
They unhorsed knights who then lay helplessly on the ground in their heavy armor.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2012
He unhorsed me at the first tilt—my son did.”
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
So, consider how the unhorsing of Cantor may strike some other Republicans.
From Washington Post
In the fall of 1946 they headed a veterans' group that came within a lance-tip of unhorsing the political boss, Judge Cy Bond.
From Time Magazine Archive
There was even talk of unhorsing Old Guardsman Watson as Republican Leader and putting Senator McNary into his place.
From Time Magazine Archive
Slim Jim Carey, now the C.I.O.'s secretary-treasurer, knew that he had not the slimmest chance of unhorsing the top trio, but he carried his fight to the floor.
From Time Magazine Archive
Yet he acquitted himself well, unhorsing Horas Redwyne in his first joust and one of the Freys in his second.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
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