to deprive (a nation, government, etc.) of its character or dignity as a state
Word origin
[1580–90; un-2 + state]This word is first recorded in the period 1580–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: academic, category, filibuster, motor, piggybackun- is a prefix freely used in English to form verbs expressing a reversal of some actionor state, or removal, deprivation, release, etc. (unbend; uncork; unfasten; etc.), or to intensify the force of a verb already having such a meaning (unloose)