v. [UN-2 4 b. Cf. G. entbürden.]
1. trans. To unload; to free from a load or burden. Chiefly fig., to relieve (a person, the mind, etc.) by the removal or disclosure of something. Freq. const. of.
α. 1538. Elyot, Addit., Exonero, -rare, to discharge or vnburdeyn.
1568. Gismond of Salerne, I. ii. 34. I may perhappes devise some way to be unburdened of my life.
1622. S. Ward, Life of Faith in Death (1627), 105. The inner man ages not,… but rather lifts vp the head, and expects to be unburdened.
1634. Sir T. Hawkins, Pol. Observ., 11. Tiberius by him unburdened from the greater toyles of Empire,… would not so soone … precipitate him.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, xii. I would fain sing to unburden it of some of its joy.
1846. Mrs. A. Marsh, Father Darcy, II. xi. 204. She felt that irresistible necessity to unburden her heart.
1858. Sears, Athan., II. ii. 194. They unburden their minds to each other.
β. a. 1595. Southwell, Hundred Medit. (1873), 231. Thou … commandest us to love to unburthen us of the heavy weight and griefs that we suffer.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 22 b/2. Ther ensueth an effluxion of bloode, because that parte may be therof released and vnburthened.
1641. Chas. I., Commons Remonstr., Wks. 1662, II. 68. We desire to unburthen the Consciences of men of needless and superstitious Ceremonies.
1671. H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 406. If I had not unburthened my Boat, I had been cast away together with my Boat, passengers, and fraught.
1777. Sheridan, Sch. Scand., IV. iii. There is a subject, my dear Friend, on which I wish to unburthen my Mind to you.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 17. The glutton … unburthens his stomach by squeezing himself between two close-standing trees.
1820. Shelley, Liberty, xix. As summer clouds dissolve, unburthened of their rain.
1875. Whyte-Melville, Katerfelto, iv. 31. He unburthened his mind while watching Waif’s stealthy movements.
b. refl.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 67. Fame … vnburdened hir selfe of hir secrets in the presence of yong Pleusidippus.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy., III. 81. It is not possible that so great course of floods … can be digested here without vnburdening themselues into some open Sea beyond this place.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 54. A violent storme of raine vnburthened it selfe.
1674. trans. Scheffer’s Lapland, xxxiv. 146. Several less rivers unburdening themselves at last into the Bothnick sea.
1859. J. Lang, Wand. India, 400. A trooper in the dragoons … thus unburthened himself.
1862. Trollope, Orley F., xxxi. She thought to herself that she would … then unburthen herself of the whole story.
2. To cast off, get rid of, discharge, after the manner of a burden; to disclose, reveal.
a. 1593. Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, V. i. The Sunne from Egypt shall rich odors bring, Wherewith his burning beames … Shall here vnburden their exhaled sweetes.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. i. 133. From your loue I haue a warrantie To vnburthen all my plots and purposes.
1830. Lytton, P. Clifford, iv. All that rage which it was necessary for her comfort that she should unburthen somewhere.
1876. E. Mellor, Priesth., viii. 372. There is, at times, a great relief in unburdening to a friend the sins and sorrows of one’s life.
Hence Unburdening vbl. sb.; Unburdenment.
1550. Thomas, Ital. Dict., Scaricamento, a dischardge or vnburdenyng.
1848. Mrs. Gaskell, Mary Barton, ii. The unburdening of her fears and thoughts to her friend.
1892. Mrs. H. Ward, David Grieve, II. vii. A moment of unburdenment, of intimacy.
1902. Fortn. Rev., June, 1048. The unburdening of sins is generally a more irksome task.
