big-brotherly en · ADJ
Etymology
Etymology tree English big brother Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-West Germanic *-līk Old English -līċ Middle English -ly English -ly English big-brotherly From big brother + -ly (adjectival suffix).
Meanings
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Of or characteristic of older brothers.
[...] a big-brotherly air of amusement [...]
1927, The Sea Gull, page 11:And it came to me that Gouverneur Morris often wrote as a high-born American man of the world about forty, in a big-brotherly mood, might talk to a nice girl of sixteen. That was his style.
1923, The Century, page 29:Coordinate term: big-sisterly
“I don’t blame you, boys, for sending Lorraine to Coventry”, he began, in a big-brotherly style.
1898, Green Garry, page 84:
Deriveds
Relateds
motherly · grandfatherly · grandmotherly · big brother · big-brotherism · fatherly · big-brotherish · big brotherism · brotherly · big-sisterly · Big Brother · Big Brotherism · sisterly · Big Brotherish
Synonyms
Translations (1)
fr grand-fraternel (of or characteristic of older brothers)