unfriend

Meaning

Noun

One who is not a friend; an enemy.

Verb

1. To sever as friends.
2. To defriend; to remove from one's friends list (e.g. on a social networking website).

Synonyms

enemy

defriend

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈʌnfɹɛnd/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: unfreend

Cognate with Scots: unfrend

Cognate with Old English: unfriþmann

Cognate with Dutch: ontvrienden

Cognate with German: entfreunden

In summary

From Middle English unfreend, onfrend, equivalent to un- (noun/adjective prefix) + friend. Cognate with Scots unfrend (“unfriend”). Compare Old English unfriþmann, unwine.