unsex
Very LowLiterary, Archaic, Poetic
Definition
Meaning
To deprive of gender, sexual attributes, or sexual identity.
To deprive of the qualities, character, or power traditionally associated with a specific sex (especially femininity); to make genderless or androgynous; to remove from the sphere of sexuality.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively used in poetic, dramatic, or historical literary contexts. Its most famous usage is in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', where Lady Macbeth calls on spirits to 'unsex' her. This heavily colours its modern understanding. It implies a forcible, often unnatural, removal of gender-specific qualities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in usage, as the word is extremely rare and confined to the same literary contexts.
Connotations
Universally carries a dramatic, archaic, and often negative (or at least unnatural) connotation.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, encountered almost solely in discussions of Shakespeare or literary gender theory.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] unsexes [Direct Object] (e.g., The spell unsexed the knight.)[Subject] calls upon/spirits to unsex [Reflexive Pronoun] (e.g., She prayed to be unsexed.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"Unsex me here" (a direct Shakespearean quote and near-idiomatic phrase referencing the act of abandoning one's gendered nature for power or cruelty.)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used exclusively in literary criticism, Shakespearean studies, and gender studies to analyse texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Not used in scientific contexts; not a standard biological or medical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- In the Gothic tale, the ancient curse threatened to unsex any man who entered the crypt.
- The witch's potion was said to unsex the drinker, leaving them in a state of neutered existence.
American English
- Critics argue the character's arc is an attempt by the author to symbolically unsex her. (Literary criticism)
- The fantasy novel featured a ritual meant to unsex the warrior, making them a perfect, emotionless guardian.
adverb
British English
- No adverbial form exists.
American English
- No adverbial form exists.
adjective
British English
- No common adjectival form in use. 'Unsexed' can function as a past participle adjective, e.g., 'the unsexed figure in the painting'.
American English
- No common adjectival form in use. 'Unsexed' can function as a past participle adjective, e.g., 'an unsexed persona adopted for the role'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The word 'unsex' is very famous because Shakespeare used it in his play Macbeth.
- Lady Macbeth's soliloquy, where she asks to be 'unsexed', is a key moment showing her desire to reject her femininity to commit murder.
- In some old stories, magic could unsex a person, turning them into neither man nor woman.
- The author uses the motif of the unsexed body to critique rigid societal gender roles, presenting it as a form of liberation from biological determinism.
- Post-structuralist readings of the text focus on how the protagonist's journey is an attempt to unsex themselves, to exist outside the symbolic order of gender.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of "UNmaking the SEX characteristics" → unsex.
Conceptual Metaphor
GENDER IS A GARMENT/ESSENCE (that can be removed). POWER IS A GENDERLESS STATE (implying that to gain certain power, one must shed the perceived weaknesses of one's sex).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian "обесположить" which is more clinical/literal. "Unsex" has a strong literary and dramatic weight that a direct translation lacks. It is not simply 'to make sexless' but to violently strip away a core identity.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in a modern, casual context. Using it to mean 'to reveal someone's sex' (the opposite meaning).
Practice
Quiz
In which famous work does the word 'unsex' have its most iconic usage?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and is almost only used when discussing Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' or in literary/gender theory contexts. It is not used in everyday conversation.
Not exactly. 'Neuter' is more biological and literal, often referring to removing reproductive organs. 'Unsex' is more psychological, poetic, and metaphorical, referring to the removal of gender-specific qualities, character, or identity.
Yes, grammatically it can. Historically, its most famous use (Lady Macbeth) is about removing feminine qualities. However, it could be applied to a man (to remove masculine qualities), though such usage would be exceptionally rare.
Not a standard one. The concept would be described with phrases like 'the state of being unsexed', 'unsexing' (as a gerund), or other terms like 'genderlessness'.