unfriend
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Middle English unfreend, onfrend, equivalent to un- (noun/adjective prefix) + friend. Cognate with Scots unfrend (“unfriend”). Compare Old English unfriþmann, unwine.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
unfriend (plural unfriends)
- One who is not a friend; an enemy.
- Synonyms: nonfriend, non-friend
- Hyponym: backfriend
- 1822 May 29, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in The Fortunes of Nigel. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, pages 88–89:
- It is even as I suspected, my lord, […] Ye have back-friends, my lord, that is, unfriends—or, to be plain, enemies—about the person of the Prince.
- 1856, Elizabeth Gaskell, The Poor Clare:
- I wonder often it has not drawn her out of the grave to come and stand before me, and hear me tell her how I loved her. For, sir, we parted unfriends.
- 1916, William Edwin Chilton, John Downey Works, Fiscal relation between the United States and the District of Columbia:
- Thus many unfriends and some friends of the Capital agree upon the same policy with diverse and contradictory motives […]
- 1999, Kees Waaijman, John Vriend, The mystical space of Carmel:
- The unfriend betrays me, ignores me, denies me, breaks me down; the unfriend is against and tries to devour my personhood.
Related terms edit
Etymology 2 edit
From un- (verb prefix) + friend. Compare Dutch ontvrienden (“to unfriend”), German entfreunden (“to unfriend”).
Pronunciation edit
Verb edit
unfriend (third-person singular simple present unfriends, present participle unfriending, simple past and past participle unfriended)
- (rare) To sever as friends.
- 1659, Thomas Fuller, The Appeal of Injured Innocence:
- "I hope, sir, that we are not mutually Unfriended by this Difference which hath happened betwixt us."
- (social media) To defriend; to remove from one's friends list (e.g. on a social networking website).
- 2007, Mia Consalvo, Caroline Haythornthwaite, Internet Research Annual: Volume 4:
- "I asked her why, she said it was because I didn't comment, and I shrugged and said whatever. I didn't unfriend her."
- 2013, Nils Smith, Social Media Guide for Ministry: What It Is and How to Use It:
- Without unfriending someone, you can now choose to limit or block (unsubscribe) someone from your newsfeed or choose to see only what Facebook deems as very important.
Synonyms edit
Antonyms edit
Translations edit
to remove from one's friends list
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