unring

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English

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Etymology

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From un- +‎ ring.

Verb

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unring (third-person singular simple present unrings, present participle unringing, simple past unrang, past participle unrung)

  1. (transitive) Hypothetically, to reverse the act of ringing, or the consequences of the action.
    In a criminal trial, if the prosecution brings in inadmissible evidence that would unfairly prejudice the accused, a mistrial may be warranted. Having the judge admonish the jury to disregard the evidence might not be enough, as the saying goes, 'You can't unring the bell.'

Derived terms

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Verb

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unring (third-person singular simple present unrings, present participle unringing, simple past and past participle unringed)

  1. (transitive, poetic) To remove a ring from.
    • 1979, John Jefferson Bray, “The Story of Iphis”, in Poems 1972-1979:
      Her lofty song commands in thrilling strains
      That new-raised woman snap her rusty chains,
      Unring her finger and unbind her breast.

Anagrams

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