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

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 Landor, Walter Savage

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 Dumas fils, Alexandre

This covering being unsewed, the naked corpse appears; the head alone being encircled with two or three bandages, called Huinchas.

From Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests by Ross, Thomasina

This always leaves an end of a signature unsewed.

From Library Bookbinding by Bailey, Arthur Low

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 Marryat, Frederick

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 Payne, John

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 Chalippe, Father Candide

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

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

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 Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

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 Payne, John

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

When engaged in road-work the Dhīmars have unsewn sandals secured to the feet with strips of leather.

From The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India Volume II by Russell, R. V. (Robert Vane)

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 Garnett, Constance

I saw a middle-aged woman in a gown of grey, with greasy splotches on it, and the braid unsewn at the skirt trailing in a loop behind.

From A Book of Ghosts by Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)

They do not come unsewn at the corners by July or August in the way those one buys in other shops do.

From The Pastor's Wife by Arnim, Elizabeth von