unharness

[ uhn-hahr-nis ]

verb (used with object)

1. to strip of harness; detach the harness from (a horse, mule, etc.).
2. to divest of armor, as a knight or warhorse.

unharness

/ ʌnˈhɑːnɪs /

verb

1. to remove the harness from (a horse, etc)
2. archaic.
   to remove the armour from

Word History and Origins

Origin of unharness¹

First recorded in 1400–50, unharness is from the Middle English word onharnesen. See un- ², harness

Example Sentences

Immunotherapies are drugs which unharness the power of the immune system against cancers.

From Science Daily

Frequently, one of the dog teams had to be unharnessed from its sled and then hitched to a lifeboat to help the men drag it up and over a hummock or ridge.

From Literature

An implication of this unharnessed truth is that God is free to go in new directions, or in directions that seem new only to us, while being entirely consistent.

From Washington Post

This was a crisis unleashed by the unharnessed power of nature, then magnified by the consequences of past policy decisions and poor leadership.

From Washington Times

My parents showed me how to really unharness my swagger.

From The Verge