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Webster 1913 Edition


Unstring

Un-string′

,
Verb.
T.
[1st pref.
un-
+
string
.]
1.
To deprive of a string or strings; also, to take from a string;
as, to
unstring
beads
.
2.
To loosen the string or strings of;
as, to
unstring
a harp or a bow
.
3.
To relax the tension of; to loosen.
“His garland they unstring.”
Dryden.
Used also figuratively;
as, his nerves were
unstrung
by fear
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Unstring

UNSTRING'

, v.t.
1.
To relax tension; to loosen; as, to unstring the nerves.
2.
To deprive of strings; as, to unstring a harp.
3.
To loose; to untie.
4.
To take from a string; as, to unstring beads.

Definition 2024


unstring

unstring

English

Verb

unstring (third-person singular simple present unstrings, present participle unstringing, simple past and past participle unstrung)

  1. (transitive) To remove the string or strings from.
    Unstring the bows before storing them.
  2. (transitive) To shake the nerves of; to cause anxiety or panic in.
    • Robert Louis Stevenson, Olalla
      The sight of his scared face, his starts and pallors and sudden harkenings, unstrung me []
    • Clifton Johnson, Battleground Adventures
      A fire is the only thing that unstrings me entirely, I feel so helpless to combat it. I'm afraid of snakes, but I can kill them.
  3. (transitive, computing, programming, COBOL) To split (a text string) into smaller strings by separating on a delimiter.
    • 1980, Norman R. Lyons, Structured Cobol for Data Processing
      It is also possible to save the delimiters (this might prove useful if the delimiters were also some sort of text identifier) and to count the length of the data items we are unstringing.

Synonyms

  • (computing: split a text string): explode

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