unarm
/'ʌn'ɑ:m/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To take away weapons from someone or something; to disarm: The primary meaning of "unarm" is to remove weapons or means of attack, thereby rendering a person, group, or entity harmless or less threatening.
- To deprive of a means of defense or protection: In a broader or more figurative sense, it can mean to strip away defenses, leaving someone or something vulnerable.
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- The security forces were ordered to unarm the captured insurgents. (This means they were told to take the weapons away from the insurgents.)
- The treaty required the nation to unarm its border fortifications. (This means the treaty obligated the nation to dismantle or remove weapons from its defensive structures.)
- Her sincere apology completely unarmed his anger. (This is a figurative use, meaning her apology removed the "weapon" of his anger, disarming him emotionally.)
Advanced Usage
- "to unarm oneself": This reflexive form means to voluntarily lay down one's own weapons or to relinquish one's own defenses.
- The knight vowed to unarm himself and seek a peaceful resolution.
- Often used in formal, literary, or historical contexts. In modern everyday speech, "disarm" is more common.
Variants and Related Words
- Disarm (verb): The most common synonym, meaning to take weapons away or to remove hostility or suspicion.
- Unarmed (adjective): Describing someone not carrying a weapon. (e.g., ).
- Arm (verb): The direct opposite, meaning to supply with weapons.
Synonyms
- Disarm
- Demilitarize
- Neutralize (in the sense of making something ineffective)
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
(Note: "Unarm" itself is not typically used in phrasal verb constructions. The concept is usually expressed by the single verb or with "disarm.")
Related Idioms
(Note: There are no common idioms specifically using the word "unarm." The concept is typically found in idioms using "disarm," such as "disarm someone with a smile.")
Verb
- take away the weapons from; render harmless