Unmask

v. [UN-² 4, 7. Cf. Du. ont-, G. entmasken.]

  1.  trans. To free (the face) from a mask or vizard; to remove a mask or covering from. Also in fig. context.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. iii. 37. The chariest Maid is Prodigall enough, If she vnmaske her beauty to the Moone.

1626.  T. H[awkins], trans. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 134. An heresy discouered, is a face unmasked, take away the vizard, you disarme her.

1665.  Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (1677), 154. The Bridge … was … full of Women,… many of which … in a fair deportment unmasqued their faces.

1728.  Eliza Heywood, trans. Mme. de Gomez’s Belle A. (1732), II. 24. The Demand I am about to make … is to follow my Example, and immediately be all unmask’d.

1841.  Emerson, Lect. on Times (1844), 72. To-day is a king in disguise … Let us unmask the king as he passes.

1876.  J. Saunders, Lion in Path, xxxvii. We must unmask you, pretty Mistress Preston.

  refl.  1825.  Scott, Talism., x. Putting his hand to his chin, and withdrawing it with the action of one who unmasks himself.

  b.  To remove like a mask.

1624.  G. Raleigh, in Farr, Sel. P. Jas. I. (1847), 242. Our tender muse hath labored as she could; Her sable vaile she must of force unmaske.

  2.  fig. To divest of a specious appearance or show; to disclose the true character of; to bring into the light; to make plain or obvious.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 1602. Vnmaske … this moodie heauinesse, And tell thy griefe.

1611.  Speed, Theat. Gt. Brit., I. xlii. 81/2. Since the true God hath vnmasked the errors of those times by the truth of his word.

1646.  Gataker, Mistake Removed, 39. Which yet the whole drift of his discours will easily unmaske.

1672.  Wilkins, Nat. Relig., 44. Time … doth by degrees discover & unmask the fallacy of ungrounded perswasions.

1704.  Norris, Ideal World, II. iii. 257. Could we but unmask nature, and strip it of all those false ornaments wherewith our prejudiced imagination has cloathed it.

1798.  Monthly Mag., VI. 552. In unmasking the popular heathenism, and in revealing the immortality of the soul.

1844.  Thirlwall, Greece, VIII. 241. The accuser … unmasked their conspiracy with Apelles.

1869.  Mozley, Univ. Serm., ii. (1876), 43. That judicial mission which was to unmask false goodness.

  b.  With personal object. Also refl.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, II. xxiii. Zelmane thought-sicke, unmaskes her selfe.

1640.  Sir W. Mure, Counter-Buff, 125. Now thy piece I must anatomize … The frontespiece unmaskes an hypocrite.

1668.  Temple, Lett. to Ld. Arlington, Wks. 1720, II. 97. They must now suddenly unmask themselves in one way or other, no farther Pretences being left.

1718.  Free-thinker, No. 75. 140. The Person … lives under a perpetual Apprehension of being unmasked.

1797.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, ix. ‘The hypocrite!’ said he to himself…: ‘but I will unmask him.’

1819.  Crabbe, T. of Hall, XII. 296. No sooner was it [sc. her hand in marriage] ask’d Than she the lovely Jezebel unmask’d.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire, i. 4. Christian charity feels constrained to unmask a demon from the depths of the pit.

  3.  absol. To take off one’s mask. Also in fig. context (quot. 1683).

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 206. My husband bids me, now I will vnmaske, This is that face … Which once [etc.].

1611.  Chapman, May Day, V. 74. Quint. O no, you must not vnmaske. Innoc. No, no, Ile kisse her with my maske and all.

1683.  Kennett, Erasm. on Folly, 2. At the first sight of me, you all unmasque, and appear in more lively colours.

1728.  Fielding, Lov. in Sev. Masques, IV. iii. Unmasque then. If I like your Face no belter than your Principles, Madam; I will immediately take my Leave of both.

1756.  trans. Keysler’s Trav., I. 349. A female bed-fellow, who never unmasks till she comes into the bed-chamber.

1818.  Lady Morgan, Autobiog. (1859), 299. I was obliged to unmask from the heat, and soon got a crowd about me.

  b.  fig. To display one’s true character.

1622.  Bacon, Julius Cæsar, Mor. & Hist., Wks. (Bohn), 502. Though this was ever his scheme, and at last put in execution, yet he did not unmask.

1745.  Young, Nt. Th., VIII. 224. Their treach’rous blessings, at the day of need, Like other faithless friends, unmask, and sting.

  4.  trans. Mil. a. To reveal the presence of (a gun or battery) by opening fire.

1747.  Gentl. Mag., 450. The besieged unmask’d 4 batteries.

1812.  Examiner, 31 Aug., 549/2. He unmasked a battery of forty pieces of cannon.

1884.  Manch. Exam., 9 Sept., 8/4. The Chinese, unmasking a mountain gun, fired on the Bayard.

  b.  To make patent; to show plainly.

1816.  Sir H. Douglas, Milit. Bridges, iv. 110. The other divisions … hastened their march as soon as the movement was unmasked.

1879.  Low, Afghan War, 100. With a view of making the Afghan commandant … unmask his force.

  5.  intr. To emerge into view.

1858.  Merc. Marine Mag., V. 227. Two Obelisks … on the strand … will … unmask.

  Hence Unmasking ppl. a.

1807.  J. Barlow, Colomb., VI. 568. Gates guides the onset … And tells the unmasking batteries when to roar.