unseat v.

prefix of reversal, deprivation, or removal (as in unhand, undo, unbutton), Old English on-, un-, from Proto-Germanic *andi- (source also of Old Saxon ant-, Old Norse and-, Dutch ont-, Old High German ant-, German ent-, Gothic and- "against"), from PIE *anti "facing opposite, near, in front of, before, against" (from PIE root *ant- "front, forehead," with derivatives meaning "in front of, before").

More or less confused with un- (1) through similarity in the notions of "negation" and "reversal;" an adjective such as unlocked might represent "not locked" (un- (1)) or the past tense of unlock (un- (2)).

1570s, of a house, town, etc., "to be in a certain position" (implied in seated), from seat (n.). Of diseases, in the body, from 1610s (hence deep-seated). Transitive sense of "locate, settle, place permanently" is from 1580s.

The meaning "cause to sit, place on a seat" is from 1590s, especially "cause to sit on a throne or other seat of dignity." From c. 1600 as "set or secure in its proper place," hence many extended senses in mechanics. Of a theater, etc., "afford seating accommodations for," by 1830.