unsheathe

American  

[uhn-sheeth] / ʌnˈʃið /

verb (used with object)

unsheathed, unsheathing

1. to draw from a sheath, as a sword, knife, or the like.

2. to bring or put forth from a covering, threateningly or otherwise.

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unsheathe British  

/ ʌnˈʃiːð /

verb

1. (tr) to draw or pull out (something, esp a weapon) from a sheath or other covering

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Etymology

Origin of unsheathe

1325–75; Middle English unshethen to dislodge; un- ², sheathe

Example Sentences

Unveiled the same day the United Nations warned of a “code red for humanity” because of rapid climate heating, the fiscal plan would unsheathe a vast effort to move the U.S. toward clean energy.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 9, 2021

Hardly a day passes that an eager Torontonian doesn’t descend upon him, unsheathe an iPhone, and snap a quick selfie.

From The Guardian • May 1, 2016

And should the hole play into the wind, players will be forced to unsheathe the heavy artillery.

From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2012

Then winds, and then the brass, began to unsheathe arpeggios, rising patterns of notes, growing gradually louder, like encroaching waves on sand, and the women in the pool raised megaphones and began to sing.

From Washington Post

The clawed hands still grasped the jeweled hilt of a sword, as if ready to unsheathe it.

From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander