BRETHREN

brethren

(noun) (plural) the lay members of a male religious order

BROTHER

brother, blood brother

(noun) a male with the same parents as someone else; “my brother still lives with our parents”

Brother

(noun) (Roman Catholic Church) a title given to a monk and used as form of address; “a Benedictine Brother”

brother

(noun) a male person who is a fellow member (of a fraternity or religion or other group); “none of his brothers would betray him”

brother, comrade

(noun) used as a term of address for those male persons engaged in the same movement; “Greetings, comrade!”

buddy, brother, chum, crony, pal, sidekick

(noun) a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Noun

Brethren

(in the plural, informal) any Brethren denomination (usually preceded by "the" or "The")

(in the singular) a member of a Brethren congregation or denomination

Etymology

Noun

brethren

(archaic) plural of brother

(figuratively) The body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order.

Usage notes

The plural brethren is generally used for members of an organization, especially a religious body, whereas the plural brothers is used in the familial sense as well as for larger groups.

Adjective

brethren (comparative more brethren, superlative most brethren)

Of or akin to; related; like

Source: Wiktionary

Breth"ren, n.;

Definition: pl. of Brother.

Note: This form of the plural is used, for the most part, in solemn address, and in speaking of religious sects or fraternities, or their members.

BROTHER

Broth"er, n.; pl. Brothers or Brethren. See Brethren. Etym: [OE. brother, AS. bro; akin to OS. brothar, D. broeder, OHG. pruodar, G. bruder, Icel. bro, Sw. & Dan. broder, Goth. bro, Ir. brathair, W. brawd, pl. brodyr, Lith. brolis, Lett. brahlis, Russ. brat', Pol. & Serv. brat, OSlav. brat, L. frater, Skr. bhrat, Zend. bratar brother, Gr. Brothers; in the solemn style, Brethren, OE. pl. brether, bretheren, AS. dat. sing. bre, nom. pl. bro, bro. sq. root258. Cf. Frair, Fraternal.]

1. A male person who has the same father and mother with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case he is more definitely called a half brother, or brother of the half blood. Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother. Wordsworth.

2. One related or closely united to another by some common tie or interest, as of rank, profession, membership in a society, toil, suffering, etc.; -- used among judges, clergymen, monks, physicians, lawers, professors of religion, etc. "A brother of your order." Shak. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother. Shak.

3. One who, or that which, resembles another in distinctive qualities or traits of character. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Prov. xviii. 9. That April morn Of this the very brother. Wordsworth.

Note: In Scripture, the term brother is applied to a kinsman by blood more remote than a son of the same parents, as in the case of Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Laban. In a more general sense, brother or brethren is used for fellow-man or fellow-men. For of whom such massacre Make they but of their brethren, men of men Milton. Brother Jonathan, a humorous designation for the people of the United States collectively. The phrase is said to have originated from Washington's referring to the patriotic Jonathan Trumbull, governor of Connecticut, as "Brother Jonathan." -- Blood brother. See under Blood.

Broth"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brothered.]

Definition: To make a brother of; to call or treat as a brother; to admit to a brotherhood. Sir W. Scott.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

BRETHREN

BROTHER

Noun

Etymology

Noun

Usage notes

Adjective

BROTHER

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