A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420-1692
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Unfrend(e, n. Also: unfreind, -freynd, -friend, -frind, -freand, wnfre(i)nd, onfre(i)nd, -freynd, onefre(i)nd, -freynd, -friend, -frind. [ME and e.m.E. onfrend (Layamon), vnfreend (a1475), unfriend (1626); Frend(e n.] One who is not a friend or well-wisher; an enemy, opponent, antagonist. Also const. to. Also fig.(1) c1420 Wynt. viii 4094.
He dowtyd the gret mycht Off his wnfrendis [C., W. vnfreyndis] a1450 Fifteen Ois 82.
For thy vnfreindis thus thou prayit: ‘Fader, forgif thame’ 1504 Exchequer Rolls XII 193 n.
Unfreindis 1524 Douglas Corr. 91.
If there be any of my unfrendis that in my absence have made senestre informacion of me unto your grace 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 54.
Wnfreind 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 116.
Ingland with the assistans of my unfrendis … hes brynt … my haill landis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 6884.
It is na sport To find ȝour vnfreind in ȝour hous, Quhidder [it] be he or scho 1568 Q. Mary in Ellis Orig. Lett. 1 Ser. II (1824) 253.
It is sed Seterday my unfrinds wil bi vth ȝou a1570-86 Maitland in Maitland Folio MS 43/20.
Wnfreindis 1571 Bann. Trans. 218.
All sic as will not concurre with me … I will be thair vnfriend at my power 1558-66 Knox I 115.
Unfreand 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 15.
The craftismen of Leith … to be repute vnfreyndis of the commoun weill a1578 Pitsc. I 357/14.
They beleiffit thay had bene strangeris or wnfreindis quhilk caussit thame to be greatlie effrayit 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii xix.
Medvsvs [and] … Phobiter that furie fell, Vnto the Gods vnfriends 1593 Acts IV 42/1.
[Rebels] salbe persewit … and … thair cornis and guidis … mellit and intromettit with or disponit to thair greitest vnfreindis 1601 Elgin Rec. II 95.
Agnes Innes confessit that scho said to Robert Innes ‘Ȝe ar my vnfreind' 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 337.
I am woe that I am making Christ my unfriend, by seeking pleas against Him 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 77.
Bischopes, ante-covenanters, papists, and uther unfriendes 1644 Army of the Covenant II 317.
Debursed for inventaring and securring the vnfreinds guids and rents in Nithisdaill and Galloway(b) 1542 Grant Chart. 88.
I … may nocht gait souyr enteres to my … landis throcht pouerty and be waye of deid of my one-frindis 1543 Hamilton P. I 561.
Onefrendis 1543–4 Corr. M. Lorraine 68.
The quenis grace has nocht as gryt ane innymye or onfrend as ye ar 1568 Grant Chart. 285.
Onfreyndis a1578 Pitsc. I. 22/24.
It wilbe monyfold mair noysum to ws nor gif we had weiris with our onfreindis a1578 Pitsc. II 218/30.
He sould be his onfreind gif he pat hand on the foirsaid personis 1616 Sutherland Bk. II 122.
The chansler, quha wes his … professit freind, is his professit onefreind 1626 Garden Worthies 40.
Your mother countrie … with onfrends infested, Togedder with intestine tumults lost(2) c1525 Wemyss Corr. 67.
We man wis … that he be nocht ane onefreynd to ws 1535 Stewart 45142.
That nane of thame within thame suld ressaue That rebell was or onfreind to the tother c1590 Fowler I 241/30.
Atropos, vnfreind to hir, and to to freind to me 1592 Grant Chart. 183.
Promesing … fra thinfurth to esteme … the said Johne Grantis onfrendis as faes and onfrendis to the said Johne McGregour 1630 Blair Autob. 82.
He proved no unfriend to us 1692 Presbyterian Eloquence (1694) 28.
This way will render us more formidable to our enemies and unfriends to our way, than strong armies or navies could dofig. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1239.
Quhen fortune worthis vnfrende, than failieis welefair 1513 Doug. ix vi 112.
The day lycht, quhilk is to ws onfrend [Ruddim. vnfreynd] Approchis neir
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"Unfrend n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unfrende>


