unhang

English

Etymology

un- + hang

Verb

unhang (third-person singular simple present unhangs, present participle unhanging, simple past and past participle unhung)

  1. (transitive) To take down something (such as a picture) from a hanging position

Verb

unhang (third-person singular simple present unhangs, present participle unhanging, simple past and past participle unhanged)

  1. (transitive) Hypothetically, to undo the execution of (a person) by hanging.
    • 1839, The Christian Observer, volume 38, page 585:
      There is a clear line of distinction in this matter. An equity judge could not unhang a man who had been wrongfully hanged; but he could set aside a precedent which was manifestly contrary to law and justice.
    • 1844, The Western Law Journal, volume 2, page 272:
      But, having hung him, you cannot unhang him. With all your liability to err, you dare to take a step, which, if wrong at all, is infinitely so, because irretrievable.

Anagrams

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.