unstate

present singular third person unstates · participle present unstating · participle past unstated · past unstated

1. transitiveTo deprive of state or dignity.

   High-battled Caesar will unstate his happiness.

   c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene xiii]

   2 more examples

   I would unstate myself, to be in a due resolution.

   c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

   And thus thoſe Forts vvhich vvere erected to defend the Crovvne, firſt offended the King, ſome fevv vvhereof as he recouered, he flatted to the ground, and vviſhed the other no higher vvalls; ſtill ſvvearing by Gods Birth (his vſuall Oath) hee vvould not ſlightly bee vnſeated of his Crovvne, and vvondring vvhat ſhould mooue them, vvho had ſo readilie aduanced him, ſo ſpeedily to vnſtate him.

   1611, Iohn Speed [i.e., John Speed], “Stephen, the Two and Fortieth Monarch of the English-men: His Raigne, Acts, and Issue”, in The History of Great Britaine under the Conquests of yͤ Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. […], London: […] William Hall and John Beale, for John Sudbury and George Humble, […], →OCLC, book IX ([Englands Monarchs] […]), paragraph 13, page 447, column 2

present singular third person unstates · participle present unstating · participle past unstated · past unstated

1. transitiveTo withdraw (something previously stated); to unsay or retract.

   Of course protectionists will be indignant at this plain way of stating the case; but see if they can unstate it.

   1884, H. W. Furber, Which? Protection, Free Trade, Or Revenue Reform, page 204

   2 more examples

   Acknowledgment unstates such implications and thus seems to legitimate victims' claims and status and vindicate their status and position.

   2009, Joanna R. Quinn, Reconciliation(s), page 40

   It's why I'm drawn to mystics like Meister Eckhart and more contemporary ones like Simone Weil and the language of apophasis, where you state something, but the statement sort of unstates itself.

   2016, Krista Tippett, Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and the Art of Living