unstrungadj.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈstrʌŋ/, U.S. /ˌənˈstrəŋ/ 1. Having the string(s) relaxed or removed:in extended use.1613 T. Campion Descr. Lords Maske in Relation Royall Entertainm. sig. D3v The good old Sage is silenc't, her free tongue That made such melodie, is now vnstrung.1646 R. Crashaw Steps to Temple 27 Ô may at once my Tongue Lose this same busie speaking art Vnpearcht, her vocall Arteries unstrung.1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 728 His voice, unstrung, Grew tremulous, and mov'd derision more Than rev'rence.
a. Of a harp, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > [adjective] > other attributes
rural1592
unstringed1597
unstrung1598
keyed1761
fingerable1818
keyless1830
omnitonic1861
solo1862
sewing machine1874
unplayed1875
original1899
electrified1938
melodic1938
analogue1976
acoustic1978
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > [adjective] > not
unstrung1598
stringless1826
unchorded1859
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Scordato,..put out of tune, vnstrung.
1633 ? F. Davison Psalm cxxxvii iii Our mute harpes, untun'd, unstrung, Up wee hung On greene willowes.
1694 M. Prior For New Year: To Sun viii 'Till Nature's Musick lyes unstrung.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) cxxxvii. ii Our Harps..We cast aside, untun'd, unstrung.
1820 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto V (Pierpont Morgan) xxxvi, in Wks. (1837) 656 (note) As silent as an unstrung drum.
1821 P. B. Shelley Adonais xxxvi. 19 The song, Whose master's hand is cold, whose silver lyre unstrung.
1871 J. R. Macduff Memories of Patmos 333 The unstrung tuneless harp.
b. Of a bow. Also = not strung.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > archer's weapons > [adjective] > attributes of bow
unbent1513
torquesa1568
stringless1597
nervous1638
strung1695
unbended1726
unstrung1744
self1801
1744 W. Whitehead Atys & Adrastus 259 Behind him hung His rat'ling Quiver, and his Bow unstrung.
1797 Encycl. Brit. II. 209/2 Now the long-bow (when unstrung) may be most conveniently covered.
1831 G. P. R. James Philip Augustus I. iv His features..had expanded like an unstrung bow.
1856 E. FitzGerald Salámán (1879) 69 Salámán Call'd for an unstrung Bow—himself the cord Fitted unhelpt.
2. Weakened, relaxed; unnerved.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > weakened
swundenc1275
yfebleda1387
palledc1390
forfeebled1513
indebilitate1529
macerate1541
feebled1573
macerated1587
eclipsed1607
enfeebleda1657
tenuinea1660
reduced1689
unstrung1690
indebilitated1696
unbraced1760
wrecky1925
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [adjective] > deprived of courage
excordiate1594
unnerved1603
unmanned1694
unstrung1866
1690 J. Dryden Don Sebastian v. iii. 131 These Sinews are not yet so much unstrung, To fail me.
1746 J. Hervey Medit. among Tombs 57 The Nervous Arm is unstrung; the brawny Sinews are relaxed.
1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature II. 49 In the Sirocco wind at Naples,..the whole system is unstrung, and the nerves seem to lose..their tension.
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre III. iii. 94 It gave new tone to my unstrung nerves.
1866 J. S. Le Fanu All in Dark v Their entertainer remained behind unstrung and melancholic.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1926; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1598