lay brother en · NOUN
Meanings
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A layman who is a member of a religious congregation or monastic order without the intention to become a priest.
2010, WHY A LAY BROTHER?, Franciscan Friars The male branch of the Franciscan family, a community of Lesser Brothers, is made up of men who are both clergy and consecrated laity traditionally called "lay brothers".
In feudal days lay brothers were usually uneducated commoners, who did most menial, manual labor while the learned priestly monks held the more spiritual jobs.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| lay brothers | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| lay-brother | alternative, archaic | lexicographic | |
| lay brethren | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (8)
nl lekenbroeder (a layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest) · fr frère lai (a layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest) · fi maallikkoveli (a layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest) · ga bráthair tuata (a layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest) · pt irmão leigo (a layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest) · gv braar theayagh (a layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest) · pl konwers (a layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest) · pl brat zakonny (a layman who is a member of a brotherhood without the intention to become a priest)