different between defriend vs unfriend

English

Etymology

de- +? friend

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?nd

Verb

defriend (third-person singular simple present defriends, present participle defriending, simple past and past participle defriended)

1. (Internet) To remove from one's list of friends (e.g. on a social networking website).
   • 2005, Schmitt et al, Professional CSS: Cascading Style Sheets for Web Design

     But why subject myself and friends to the awkward social construct of being virtually "defriended" because I want to save some space on a Web page?

   • 2007, Mia Consalvo, Caroline Haythornthwaite, Internet Research Annual: Volume 4

     Likewise, the actions of friending or defriending someone send out messages of their own.

Synonyms

• unfriend

Antonyms

• friend

Anagrams

• friended

English

Alternative forms

• un-friend

Etymology 1

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

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?nd
• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /??nf??nd/

Noun

unfriend (plural unfriends)

1. One who is not a friend; an enemy.
   • 1822, Scott, Nigel:

     Ye have back-friends, my lord, that is, un-friends, or to be plain, enemies.

   • 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.

Synonyms

• backfriend

Related terms

• unfriendly

Etymology 2

un- (verb prefix) +? friend

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?nd
• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?n?f??nd/

Verb

unfriend (third-person singular simple present unfriends, present participle unfriending, simple past and past participle unfriended)

1. (rare) To sever as friends.
2. (Internet) 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."

Synonyms

• defriend

Antonyms

• friend
• befriend

Translations

Anagrams

• reinfund