v. [UN-2 6 b. Cf. Du. ontgoden, G. entgöttern.] To deprive of the qualities or position of deity; to undeify. (Common c. 1640–1740.)
1627. Wren, Serm. bef. King, 17 Feb., 33. All slight and unawful Expressions … Vngodding him no lesse … then does rash and unadvised blasphemie.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., II. 61. Though men cannot come to pull God out of his throne, and un-god him.
1677. [see UNCHRISTED ppl. a.].
1708. O. Dykes, Eng. Prov. & Refl. (1709), 243. Attempting saucily to rival, to insult, or to ungod his Creator.
a. 1750. T. Gordon, Another Cordial (1751), II. 293. The Jew crucifics his Saviour, the Socinian and Mahometan ungod him.
a. 1834. Coleridge, in Lit. Rem. (1839), IV. 224. A consistent Socinianism … in ungodding the Saviour must deify cats and dogs.
1892. Gospel Watchman, Dec., 191/1. God … will be dethroned and ungodded before it shall come to pass.
refl. 1672. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal, IV. ii. For fair Parthenope, Gods would, themselves, un-god themselves to see.
1685. J. Scott, Chr. Life, II. vii. § 1. Which would be to destroy his own Being, and un-god himself.
Hence Ungodding vbl. sb.
1656. Beake, in Burton’s Diary (1828), I. 59. It is a crime that deposes the majesty of God himself, the ungodding of God.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. iv. § 20. 381. His Ungodding of the Sun, Moon and Stars.
1716. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., II. 407. What a horror the Primitive Christians had of the Notions, of Ungodding our Saviour.
