v. [UN-2 5.]
1. trans. To dislodge from a seat (esp. on horseback).
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. x. 10. Whom boldly I encountred … And by good fortune shortly him vnseated.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 553. His horse … Rush’d to the cliff, and … stood. At once the shock unseated him.
1835. W. Irving, Tour Prairies, 177. Beatte was nearly unseated from his saddle.
1845. J. Coulter, Adv. in Pacific, xvi. 247. The boat plunged down … with so violent a shock, that nearly all were unseated.
1895. Scully, Kafir Stories, 170. My horse … wheeled sharply to the right, completely unseating me.
transf. 1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., 84. But Constantine … displaced and unseated this huge masse.
1839. Marryat, Phant. Ship, ii. The probing of the wound would half unseat my reason.
1891. Cent. Dict., s.v., To unseat a boiler; to unseat a valve.
2. To dislodge from some place or position; to deprive of rank or office.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., Summary. In Germany by intrusion they vnseated the Sueuians.
1661. J. Davies, Civ. Warres, 371. [They] resolved next morning to unseat the Parliament once more.
1826. Hood, Recipe for Civiliz., 89. Whereas a cook would soon unseat him [sc. Apis], And make his own churchwardens eat him.
1870. Emerson, Soc. & Solit., iv. 67. A greater power of carrying the thing loftily, and with perfect assurance,… might … unseat any sovereign, and abrogate any constitution in Europe and America.
1878. Taylor, Deukalion, III. vi. 135. The Gods of races I unseat, as Time or Tyranny of old Unseated them.
b. spec. To deprive of, or depose from, a seat in Parliament or other representative body.
1834. Tait’s Mag., I. 541/1. Had one third of the exceptions held good, it was clear the Governor must be unseated.
1892. Sergt. Ballantine, Exper., xxx. 294. The first case … was speedily disposed of by unseating the member.
