Definition of "undress"

undress

/ʌnˈdɹɛs/

verb
third-person singular simple present undresses, present participle undressing, simple past and past participle undressed
1. (reflexive) To remove one's clothing.
2. (intransitive) To remove one’s clothing.
3. (transitive) To remove the clothing of (someone).
4. (transitive, figuratively) To strip of something.
5. To take the dressing, or covering, from.
noun
countable and uncountable, plural undresses
1. (now archaic or historical) Partial or informal dress for women, as worn in the home rather than in public.
  Quotations
  Here he had not waited above ten minutes, when Emilia entered in a most inchanting undress, with all the graces of nature playing about her person, and in a moment rivetted the chains of his slavery beyond the power of accident to unbind.
  1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […]
2. (now archaic or historical) Informal clothing for men, as opposed to formal or ceremonial wear.
  Quotations
  His undress, and the agitation he was apparently in, which she imputed to the effect of her charms, combined to make him appear more interesting both to the mother and daughter […] .
  1791, Charlotte Smith, Celestina, Broadview, published 2004, page 92
3. Now more specifically, a state of having few or no clothes on.
  Quotations
  The visitor, observing that she held the door on the inside, and that, when the uncle tried to open it, there was a sharp adjuration of 'Don't, stupid!' and an appearance of loose stocking and flannel, concluded that the young lady was in an undress.
  1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857

Definition of "undress"

undress

verb

noun

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations