unsew

American  

[uhn-soh] / ʌnˈsoʊ /

verb (used with object)

unsewed, unsewn, unsewed, unsewing

1. to remove or rip the stitches of (something sewed).

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Etymology

Origin of unsew

First recorded in 1300–50, unsew is from the Middle English word unsouwen. See un- ², sew ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

unsew unsewed unsewing unsewn

The host was tempted to unsew the valise.

From Imaginary Conversations and Poems A Selection by Walter Savage Landor

Thereupon one of the men put out his hand, began to unsew the shroud, and taking hold of it by one end suddenly laid bare the face of Marguerite.

From Camille by Alexandre Dumas fils

Sometimes he did strip himself to clothe them; and when he had not enough to satisfy them all, he unsewed or tore his clothes to divide among them.

From The Life and Legends of Saint Francis of Assisi by Father Candide Chalippe

This always leaves an end of a signature unsewed.

From Library Bookbinding by Arthur Low Bailey

Then he perceived an amulet sewn in the cap of the turban so he unsewed the lining and took it out; then took the trousers, in which was the purse of a thousand dinars.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Volume I by John Payne

I unsewed the seal-skin, and gave him the letter to read—without being aware that he could read: he took it and read it aloud.

From Percival Keene by Frederick Marryat

So the rocking-chair was unsewed, and papa's desk and the big table were unpacked; and as each familiar article came to view, Eyebright felt as though an old friend were restored to her.

From Eyebright A Story by Susan Coolidge

So I washed him and, unsewing his gown, found in the bosom a ruby worth thousands of gold pieces and said to myself, By Allah, this youth was indeed weaned from worldly things!'

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 05 by Sir Richard Francis Burton

"Here are the three letters," said Jacqueline, who had finished unsewing the lining of her gown.

From Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Honoré de Balzac

So I washed him and unsewing his gown, found in the bosom a ruby worth thousands of diners and said to myself, "By Allah, this youth was indeed abstracted from the things of this world!"

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Volume IV by John Payne

Elnora, whose eyes were too weak to see her stitches, merely sat with some unsewn pillow covers in her lap and closed her eyes.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

That evening as Kuzma Vassilyevitch was undressing to go to bed, he noticed that the upper edge of his leather belt had come unsewn for about three inches.

From Knock, Knock, Knock and Other Stories by Constance Garnett

One well-worn, damaged rush-chair was beside the worm-eaten, stump bedstead, a box supported a chipped white jug and basin, and an old sack unsewn and opened out formed the carpet.

From The New Mistress A Tale by George Manville Fenn

Mournful, with drooping breasts and robes unsewn    The shapes of women swayed in ebon skies, Trailing behind him with a restless moan    Like cattle herded for a sacrifice.

From Forty-Two Poems by James Elroy Flecker

In evil hour—by what chance ne'er was known, Whether the bustle's seam had come unsewn, Or MRS.

From The Humorous Poetry of the English Language; from Chaucer to Saxe by James Parton

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