undo

Verb

WordNet 3.0

Verb (5)

  1. cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect“I wish I could undo my actions”
  2. deprive of certain characteristicsSynonyms: unmake
  3. cause the ruin or downfall of“A single mistake undid the President and he had to resign”
  4. cause to become loose“undo the shoelace”“untie the knot”“loosen the necktie”Synonyms: untieloosen
  5. remove the outer cover or wrapping of“Let's unwrap the gifts!”“undo the parcel”Synonyms: unwrap
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Undo \Un*do"\, v. t. [AS. und?n. See 1st Un-, and Do to perform.]

1.To reverse, as what has been done; to annul; to bring to naught. [1913 Webster]

What's done can not be undone.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
To-morrow, ere the setting sun, She 'd all undo that she had done.— Swift.[1913 Webster]

2.To loose; to open; to take to piece; to unfasten; to untie; hence, to unravel; to solve; as, to undo a knot; to undo a puzzling question; to undo a riddle. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

Pray you, undo this button.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
She took the spindle, and undoing the thread gradually, measured it.— Sir W. Scott.[1913 Webster]

3.To bring to poverty; to impoverish; to ruin, as in reputation, morals, hopes, or the like; as, many are undone by unavoidable losses, but more undo themselves by vices and dissipation, or by indolence. [1913 Webster]

That quaffing and drinking will undo you,— Shak.[1913 Webster]
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