unstring

American

[uhn-string] / ʌnˈstrɪŋ /

verb (used with object)

unstrung, unstringing

to deprive of strings.

to unstring a violin.
to take from a string.

to unstring beads.
to loosen the strings of.

to unstring a bow.
to relax the tension of.
to relax unduly, or weaken (the nerves).
to weaken the nerves of.

unstring British

/ ʌnˈstrɪŋ /

verb

to remove the strings of
(of beads, pearls, etc) to remove or take from a string
to weaken or enfeeble emotionally (a person or his nerves)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of unstring

First recorded in 1605–15; un- ² + string

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.

That alone would’ve been enough for me to unstring my racquets and call it a career.

From Newsweek • Jun. 21, 2011

The morning is positive; in the evening we muse and dream and take our ease, we see our friends, we unstring the bow, we indulge our social instincts.

From The Last Harvest by Burroughs, John

Peggy was not, as we know, a nervous girl, but the situation was enough to unstring the nerves of the most stolid of beings.

From The Girl Aviators on Golden Wings by Burnham, Margaret

Mr. Snobbe requests all persons having nerves to be unstrung to unstring them now.

From The Dreamers A Club by Bangs, John Kendrick

And this wave of passion that ran through his veins seemed to unstring his nerves, weaken his purpose, and cast a mist of love over his courage.

From The Strand Magazine, Vol. 27, No. 161, May 1904 by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023