Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
brethren en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.
Meanings
-
Of or akin to; related; like
The principle still sounds good, but our astronomical knowledge is limited, and we haven't yet discovered any such brethren solar systems.
2009, Seth Shostak, Confessions of an Alien Hunter:
Forms
Relateds
Brethren · brotherhood · sistren and nun · sisterhood · fraternity · siblings · friar and frater · father · brother
brethren en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.
Meanings
-
(archaic, form-of, plural) plural of brother
The Introit over, the service is interrupted for the feast. Contrary to the festive fashion of the nobles, who all sit with their swords beside them, here, in this feast of brethren, are no arms, not even a knife.
1863, Jules Michelet, La Sorcière: The Witch of the Middle Ages translated by Lionel J. Trotter:
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(figuratively, plural, plural-only) The body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order.
-
(poetic) kinsmen
Forms
Coordinates
sistren
Deriveds
half-brethren · co-brethren · United Brethren · Social Brethren · brethren-in-law · womb-brethren · lay brethren · stepbrethren · Brethren · half brethren · bredrin · step-brethren · blood brethren · uterine brethren · brethren in arms
Translations (36)
es cofradía (the body of members) · bn ভ্রাতৃবর্গ (the body of members) · uk бра́ття (the body of members) · es grey (the body of members) · el αδελφοί (the body of members) · pt confraria (the body of members) · de Brüdergemeinschaft (the body of members) · fr confrères (the body of members) · hu hittestvér (the body of members) · el αδελφότητα (the body of members) · fr frères (the body of members) · fi veljekset (the body of members) · pl bractwo (the body of members) · es correligionarios (the body of members) · pt irmãos (the body of members) · uk бра́тство (the body of members) · hu felebarát (the body of members) · es camaradas (the body of members) · fr confrérie (the body of members) · it confratelli (the body of members) · pt confrades (the body of members) · tay mtsswe (the body of members) · uk бра́тія (the body of members) · de Brüder (the body of members) · oc confraires (the body of members) · ca confraria (the body of members) · oc fraires (the body of members) · da broder (the body of members) · fi veljet (the body of members) · ja 同胞 (the body of members) · cmn 同胞 (the body of members) · sv bröder (the body of members) · ru бра́тство (the body of members) · es hermandad (the body of members) · es hermanos (the body of members) · es cofrades (the body of members)